Do you need an OCD treatment? Symptoms to watch out for

by | Jun 12, 2023 | ImPerfect - Urveez Kakalia

Do you need an OCD treatment? Symptoms to watch out for

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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder widely known as OCD is a mental health condition wherein a person suffers from continuous recurrent intrusive thoughts that lead to repetitive almost ritualistic behaviors (compulsions) due to fear. These compulsions make it hard for people with OCD to interact socially and perform daily tasks efficiently. OCD is a life-long struggle but the symptoms may fluctuate in intensity. People often say that “I have OCD because I like to clean and because I worry constantly” or “I must be OCD because am obsessed with cleaning.” Although these are some symptoms it is essential to know that OCD is much more than being a perfectionist and a clean person. It is an extreme condition that can disrupt the everyday routine of people. These obsessions in OCD are unwanted and people suffering from OCD do not enjoy doing these rituals instead they do it because they feel the need. 

The average onset of OCD is 19 and hardly any individual develops OCD after 40. Symptoms of the same can usually be seen during teenage and/or during childhood.

Note: You can be diagnosed with OCD at any time in your life but it is rare to see people develop OCD after the age of 35. Data retrieved from The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). 

Common Experiences:

As the name suggests the most common features of OCD are obsession and compulsion. Obsession and Compulsion in OCD can sound like, “I should at least take a bath at least 5 times per day to keep myself clean” “I need to avoid people what if I catch their germs” or “It doesn’t feel right if I don’t arrange all my books in a particular order and particular set wise”

Here are some common thought or behaviour patterns: 

  1. Intrusive thoughts of harming yourself or someone else, engaging in violent sexual activity, sexual identity thoughts, such as “What if I crash my car on purpose” “A man seeing his daughter chopping vegetables and has an unwanted image of stabbing her with the knife.” having consistent thoughts about dying or killing someone you love. 
  2. Avoiding contact with others due to the fear of getting contaminated with germs or dirt. Refusing to shake hands or avoid doorknobs that a lot of people must have touched. 
  3. Worrying excessively about morality, i.e. worrying too much about what is or should be considered right and wrong.
  4. Being in a consistent state of confusion about your gender identity and sexual orientation
  5. Arranging things in a very particular way in your drawer or dresser is a sign of neatness, symmetry, or perfection.
  6. Collecting and hoarding items that have no personal or financial value.
  7. Things associated with numbers, i.e. doing a task n number of times, repeating the same numbers over and over again, excessively preferring or avoiding specific numbers. 
  8. Need for constant reassurance.

Though intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviours are common features in OCD, they are not enough to warrant a diagnosis, so if you see these features in yourself or someone else, it doesn’t mean you have OCD. If you feel that all these signs are getting out of hand and if you aren’t able to manage them efficiently you should seek professional help, as it might affect your life, work, and relationships with people around you. 

Disclaimer: Although these are the common signs found in people suffering from OCD it is important to know that this is not an exhaustive list and if you think you are suffering from OCD then it is advisable that you seek medical attention as soon as possible. This can include going to a trustworthy therapist or psychiatrist who can help you. 

– Urveez Kakalia and Sakshi Merai.

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