Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder that affects about 1-2% of the population. People with OCD experience both obsessions and compulsions.
Be sure to watch our video for more information! Recognizing OCD: Do I have it?Jenny's storyJenny is a 31-year-old married woman with a 3-year-old son. Born and raised in China, she immigrated to Canada with her husband about 10 years ago. She has been on leave from her nursing job for over a year due to anxiety-related difficulties. Jenny says that because of her job she has always been careful about being clean, but she was never overly concerned about germs. However, when she returned to work after a maternity leave, she started having "scary" thoughts that if she was not careful enough, she could contract a serious illness (such as AIDS) at work and make her baby sick. Although she knew that it was difficult to contract the HIV virus, she found the idea of making her son sick very upsetting. Because of this concern, she took extra care when washing her hands at work; for example, she used only very hot water to wash her hands because she thought it would get them cleaner, and washed them repeatedly until it felt "just right". She also made sure that she changed out of her work clothes before going home, and washed them with bleach. Jenny says that her fear of being contaminated was manageable at first, because she only needed to wash her hands after coming in contact with a patient. She thought that it was just a phase and that she would "get over it." But, Jenny's fear only got worse over time. She soon found herself being consumed with worries about contracting and spreading an illness to her son. She became afraid of coming into contact with more and more things at work, and felt she needed to wash her hands more frequently. By the time she decided to take a leave from work, she was washing her hands up to 70 times a day, and they were raw and bleeding as a result. At home, she frequently "disinfects" all of her son's toys with boiling water and washes his clothes and sheets with bleach. She also avoids taking him to parks and other public places for fear that he will come into contact with a "contaminant" (e.g., animal feces, used tissue paper) and get sick. Jenny's preoccupation with her son's well-being is a major source of tension between her and her husband, because her husband feels that she is overly protective of their son. Although Jenny is aware that her fear is excessive, she finds it too difficult to resist washing and cleaning because she does not want to risk harming her son. David's storyDavid is a 40-year-old accountant who is divorced and lives alone. His marriage ended because of his ways of doing things. David describes himself as a "perfectionist" who repeats everything he does (e.g., reading, writing, locking doors) at least three times to ensure that he has done every task perfectly. He says that the more anxious and stressed he is, the more times he needs to repeat a task. He knows that he has done something perfectly when it feels "just right". David says that since he was a child he has always been concerned about doing things perfectly and correctly. When he was in school, he would spend most of his time writing and rewriting his assignments to make sure that they were done perfectly. He would also read and re-read the same textbook paragraph until he felt that he completely understood and remembered the information it contained. At work, he repeatedly checks everything he does, particularly forms and other written work, to make sure that he has done it correctly and perfectly. If he makes a mistake, he needs to redo the whole document. He states that it often takes him a long time to complete any written work, even writing an address on an envelope, because he worries that something bad might happen (e.g., loss of client) if things are not done "perfectly". David also has a strong need to know and remember things, repeatedly asking for clarification if he does not fully understand something that is said to him. He also blinks repeatedly when he is trying to understand something because he believes that doing so helps him to understand things better. David is also very concerned about saying "just the right thing" to people. He worries that if he does not communicate precisely, he will be misunderstood. He usually rehearses what he wants to say in his head first, to make sure that his responses are precise and perfect. David knows that his need for perfection caused his marriage to fail and makes him less productive at work, but he worries that if he does not strive to do everything perfectly, he will end up making mistakes all the time and become jobless and then homeless. David feels confused and depressed; he is not sure what he should do about his condition and is not confident that he can change. Top What do obsessions look like?There are many different types of obsessions, and many people with OCD will have more than one type of obsession. Some examples of common obsessions are: Fear of contamination.
Thoughts of doubt.
Fear of accidentally harming self or others.
Need for symmetry/exactness.
Repugnant obsessions. These kinds of obsessions are particularly unwanted and people with them would never want to act on them. Having them DOES NOT mean you are crazy, dangerous, or evil deep down inside!
Top What do compulsions look like?Some examples of common compulsions are: Washing/cleaning compulsions.
Checking compulsions.
These behaviours are performed in an attempt to stop something bad from happening. However, repeated checking often makes people feel even less sure that they have successfully prevented the bad event from happening. Some examples include: Ordering/arranging compulsions.
Mental rituals.
Need to ask or confess.
Hoarding.
Top How do I know if I have OCD?Everyone has thoughts that are upsetting or do not make a lot of sense from time to time; this is normal. Just having an unpleasant thought does not mean you have obsessions. Similarly, it is not uncommon for people to repeat certain actions, such as double-checking whether the door is locked. However, these behaviours are not always compulsions. When is it an obsession?
Young adults between 18 and 24 years of age are at the highest risk for developing OCD. However, many adults with OCD say their symptoms started when they were children or adolescents. Men tend to develop OCD at an earlier age (usually between age 14 and 19.5) than women (usually between age 21 and 22). Among adults, women report having OCD slightly more frequently than men. Over time, OCD symptoms can change. For example, you might start off with washing your hands compulsively, but later develop excessive checking behaviours and actually stop compulsive washing altogether. Top What other things do adults with OCD do in daily life?Avoidance. Adults with OCD often spend a lot of time and effort trying to avoid anything that might trigger their symptoms. For example, if you have contamination fears, you might avoid shaking hands with people. If you are afraid of harming others, you might avoid using sharp objects (e.g., knives, scissors). Sometimes this avoidance can be extreme and prevent you from getting things done or going out of your home. Distraction. People with OCD will often try to shift their attention away from their obsessions by doing or thinking about something else. Getting family involved in rituals. Adults with OCD can become so distressed and anxious about their obsessions that they also have their friends and family engage in certain compulsions or live by certain "rules". For example, such a person might ask family members to change out of their "dirty" clothes immediately upon arriving home or not allowing family members to use certain words. Top OCD:The facts!
Top Self-help: Managing your OCD at homeClick here for Self-help: Managing your OCD at home. About the authorAnxiety Canada promotes awareness of anxiety disorders and increases access to proven resources. Visit www.anxietycanada.com. © 2015 | Back to top | More info sheetsWhat are actions and thoughts OCD?Thought-action fusion is when you believe that simply thinking about an action is equivalent to actually carrying out that action. For example, if a thought randomly pops into your mind about something unacceptable—such as murdering your partner—you would believe this to just as bad as actually harming them.
What is thought suppression in OCD?Thought suppression occurs when we try to ignore or control intrusive thoughts that we find threatening or distressing. Thought suppression can be common in people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
How can I reduce my anxiety and OCD?6 Best Strategies to Combat Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Practice mindfulness to manage stress. Two key characteristics of OCD are high anxiety and the presence of intrusive thoughts. ... . Get plenty of exercise. ... . Sleep well and enough. ... . Avoid nicotine and alcohol. ... . Reach out to family and friends. ... . Find an ERP therapist.. What are defense mechanisms for OCD?The commonest type of defense mechanism that people with obsessive compulsive disorder use more frequently are impartiality, denial, seclusion, regression, reaction-making, justification, and sublimation.
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