What is OCD?

OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) is where you experience persistent, unwanted thoughts, feelings, or ideas that become obsessions. Trying to manage your obsessions makes you adopt actions or rituals that become compulsions.

Many people have a tendency to become obsessive about certain things or carry out compulsive behaviors without it being a significant problem. Wanting your desk to be clean and well-ordered or carrying out a specific ritual before a sports match aren’t a cause for concern.

However, if your obsessions and compulsions start to dominate your mind, you could have OCD — for example, unpleasant thoughts that are impossible to get out of your head and cause you significant distress; or compulsive behaviors that interfere with your ability to work or study.

What are common obsessions and compulsions?

Obsessions can come from anywhere and relate to anything that catches your mind. With OCD, they’re typically frightening or unpleasant. They may have no relation to your interests and feelings about other subjects, and often involve taboo areas.

Some common kinds of obsessions include:

• Dirt and germs

• Symmetry and precision

• Violence

• Religious ideas

• Sexual acts

The compulsions you develop to cope with these obsessive thoughts usually involve performing repeated actions. For example, you might feel compelled to open and close a door or flick a light switch an exact number of times.

People with OCD often take a long time to complete everyday tasks because of their compulsions to check that doors are locked or electrical appliances are turned off. People with OCD that revolves around dirt and infection might spend ages washing their hands (to the point they bleed) or wiping everything down before touching it.

Some people with OCD understand their obsessions and compulsions have no basis in reality — that a disaster isn’t going to occur if they don’t turn a light switch off precisely 20 times before leaving a room. Others are unshakeable in their belief even when they see evidence proving they’re wrong.