Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) features a pattern of unwanted thoughts and fears (obsessions) that lead you to do repetitive behaviors (compulsions). These obsessions and compulsions interfere with daily activities and cause significant stress. 

You may try to ignore or stop obsessions, but that only increases your stress and anxiety. You feel driven to perform compulsive acts to try to ease your stress. Despite efforts to ignore or get rid of bothersome thoughts or urges, they keep coming back. This leads to more ritualistic behavior – the vicious cycle of OCD.

If you have OCD, you may be ashamed and embarrassed about the condition, but treatment can be effective.

Symptoms

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) usually includes both obsessions and compulsions. It is also possible to have only obsessions and compulsions are excessive or unreasonable, but they take up a great deal of time and interfere with your daily routine and social, school, or work functioning.

Obsession symptoms

OCD obsessions are repeated, persistent and unwanted thoughts, urges or images that are intrusive and cause distress or anxiety. You may try to ignore them or get rid of them by performing a compulsive behavior or ritual. These obsessions typically intrude when you’re trying to think of or do other things. 

Obsessions often have themes to them, such as:

• Fear of contamination or dirt
• Doubting and having difficulty tolerating uncertainty
• Needing things orderly and symmetrical
• Aggressive or horrific thought about losing control and harming yourself and others.
• Unwanted thoughts, including aggression, or sexual or religious subjects.

Examples of obsession signs and symptoms include:

• Fear of being contaminated by touching objects others have touched.
• Doubts that you locked the door or turned off the stove.
• Intense stress when objects aren’t orderly or facing a certain way.
• Images of driving your car into a crowd of people
• Thoughts about shouting obscenities or acting inappropriately in public.
• Unpleasant sexual images
• Avoidance of situations that can trigger obsessions, such as shaking hands.

Compulsion Symptoms

OCD compulsions are repetitive behaviors that you feel driven to perform. These repetitive behaviors or mental acts are meant to reduce anxiety related to your obsessions or prevent something bad from happening. However, engaging in the compulsions brings no pleasure and may only offer only a temporary relief from anxiety. You may make up rules or rituals to follow that help control your anxiety when you’re having obsessive thoughts. These compulsions are excessive and often are not realistically related to the problem they’re intended to fix.

As with obsessions, compulsions typically have themes, such as:

• Washing and cleaning
• Checking
• Counting 
• Orderliness
• Following a strict routine
• Demanding reassurance

Examples of compulsion signs and symptoms include:

• Handwashing until skin becomes raw.
• Checking doors repeatedly to make sure it’s off.
• Counting in certain patterns
• Silently repeating a prayer, word or phrase
• Arranging your canned goods to face the same way.

Symptoms generally worsen when you experience greater stress, OCD, can have mild or moderate symptoms or be so severe and time-consuming that it becomes disabling.

 While OCD warrants treatment by a professional, you can do some things for yourself to build on your treatment plan:

• Practice what you learn. Work with your mental health professional to identify techniques and skills that help manage symptoms, and practice these regularly.
• Take your medications as directed. 
• Pay attention to warning signs. You and your doctor may have identified issues that can trigger your OCD symptoms. Make a plan so you know what to do if symptoms return.
• Learn about OCD. Learning about your condition can empower you and motivate you to stick to your treatment plan.
• Stay focused on your goals. Keep your recovery goals in mind and remember that recovery from OCD is an ongoing process.
• Join a support group. Reaching out to others facing similar challenges can provide you with support and help you cope and get through your challenges.
• Find healthy outlets. Explore healthy ways to channel your energy, such as hobbies. Exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet, and get adequate sleep.
• Learn relaxation and stress management. Meditation, visualization, muscle relaxation, massage, deep breathing, yoga, tai chi may help ease stress and anxiety.
• Stick with your regular activities. Try not to avoid meaningful activities. Go to work, spend time with family and friends.