Understanding the Symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive compulsive disorder is characterized by unwanted and uncontrollable thoughts or impulses. An individual suffering from this disorder may experience intrusive thoughts throughout the day, or may feel compelled to perform a specific action repeatedly. While people often recognize that these thoughts and behaviors are unwanted and out of control, they feel powerless to stop them.Obsessions are involuntary thoughts or images that seem to occur over and over again. Even though the individual does not want to experience these obsessive thoughts, they cannot seem to avoid them. In some cases, these images or thoughts can be disturbing or dangerous. For example, a person may experience an obsessive thought to swerve their car into the other lane while driving.
Compulsions are similar to obsessions, but they involve actual behaviors that people feel driven to repeat over and over. Someone suffering from this disorder may feel compelled to run back to see if they locked their front door. While this may seem relatively normal, the individual may check the door 15 to 20 times before they are finally able to leave the house. Other people may scrub their hands until they are raw, straighten fringe on a lap blanket or count the number of ceiling tiles in every room they enter.
Common Symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Individuals experiencing obsession may become obsessed with dirt, germs and cleanliness. Such individuals may avoid situations they perceive as unclean, or spend an excessive amount of time worrying about germs. Other obsessions are often related to a need for order or control over the environment.Common symptoms of compulsions include repeatedly checking things, including doors, locks and appliances. These behaviors are often accompanied with superstitions or fears about disastrous things that may happen if these things are not checked repeatedly. Other individuals may spend an excessive amount of time cleaning, counting, ordering or collecting random objects.
When these symptoms become so predominant that they begin creating problems in a person's daily life, it is important for the individual to seek help. Consulting a trained healthcare professional can provide insight into the symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder and help identify a treatment plan that will work for the individual's specific needs.
