A person with this condition will often experiencesymptoms of obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors.
These symptoms range in severity.
This article looks at the most common symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder and how to recognize them.
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Signs & Symptoms
Symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder can broadly be categorized into obsessions and compulsions.
What Are Obsessions?
These thoughts often cause emotional distress and anxiety.
However, for people with OCD, these types of thoughts are persistent and disruptive.
These thoughts vary from person to person and can be offensive or violent.
A person with OCD can also have several obsessions simultaneously.
Some common examples ofobsessive thoughtspeople with this condition experience include:
What Are Compulsions?
This is what causes the cycle of obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors.
Another example is a person who fears getting sick from contamination.
They might wash their hands several times a day, trying to neutralize this obsession.
However, they only get temporary relief after each time they perform the compulsion.
Compulsions could be physically manifested behaviors such as hand washing or mental compulsions such as repeated counting.
Some common examples of compulsive behavior include:
It’s critical to distinguish habits and routines from compulsions.
Without engaging in the behaviors, they are often unable to function.
They also derive no pleasure or satisfaction from these behaviors.
They only bring a temporary reprieve to the distress brought on by obsessive and intrusive thoughts.
Tic may manifest in different ways and can vary from person to person.
While one person might experience head jerking, another might experience uncontrollable blinking.
Other common tics include:
Some people with OCD might experience suicidal thoughts or suicidal ideation.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor.
If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
For instance, drinking alcohol or not getting enough sleep could worsen the severity of your symptoms.
In some cases, people with OCD might also develop other mental health conditions.
Brock H, Hany M.Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; November 27, 2021.
