What Is O.C.D?

O.C.D stands for 'obsessive compulsive disorder' and is deemed an anxiety disorder.

Although not classed as mentally unstable, O.C.D sufferers have recurring obsessive thoughts related to a particular matter. Normally to help themselves feel more at ease sufferers will do something about these thoughts, resulting in them  carrying out something that is either obsessive or compulsive or both.

If an O.C.D sufferer doesn't fix their obsessive thought, then uneasiness, fear, and the feeling of threat can grip them.

O.C.D is actually quite common and is surprisingly the fourth most common 'mental disorder', however it is not an illness and many sufferers are ordinary to talk to, they just have anxiety problems. Still, this is not healthy for the mind.

Many individuals who do have O.C.D, will tell you that what they're doing is irrational and maybe quite unreasonable, but they just don't feel safe or at ease without doing such a thing. 

This is why logical reasoning and comforting words don't work for people with higher levels of this anxiety disorder.

What are Obsessions?

Obsessions are the images, impulses, and ideas that run through the sufferers mind over and over again. These may be permanent thoughts that always play upon the individuals mind, or thoughts that may arise from particular situations in which the thoughts are connected to.

A person suffering with O.C.D doesn't want to have these thoughts, but just cant help themselves from thinking them.

What are Compulsions

Obsessions are the thoughts that cause the person to become anxious or afraid, the behaviours that come about to help the individual (what the individual finds to help) deal with these situations - these are the compulsions and are sometimes described as ritualistic characteristics.

For example: An individual might feel anxious about saying the wrong thing at the wrong time, and so may retract socially as to avoid these situations and become very quiet when amongst people, as-well as having their communicational skills deteriorate. 

Common obsessive and compulsive behaviour

• Concern with dirt or germs.,
• Excessive concern with environmental contaminants. Examples: asbestos, radiation, pesticides or toxic waste.,
• Excessive concern with household items. Examples: cleansers, solvents.,
• Bothered by sticky substances or residues. Examples: adhesives, chalk dust or grease.,
• Concern or disgust with bodily waste or secretions. Examples: urine, faeces or saliva.,
• Excessive concern with animals or insects. (Distinguished from Specific Phobia.), 
• Concerned will get ill because of contaminants. Examples: AIDS or cancer,
• Concerned will get others ill by spreading contaminants,
• No concern with consequences of contamination other than how it might feel.,
• Fear of eating certain foods. Examples: excessive concern about risks of certain foods or food preparations. (Distinguished from concern in gaining weight.),
• Excessive concern with becoming pregnant or of making someone pregnant,
• Need for symmetry or exactness. Examples: certain things can’t be touched or moved, clothes organized in closet alphabetically, bothered if pictures are not straight or canned goods not lined up. (Distinguished from O.C.P.D.), 
• Exactness in dressing. Examples: excessive concern about appearance of clothing such as wrinkles, lint, loose threads; may not wear garments out of concern they will become worn.,
• Exactness or symmetry in grooming. Examples: bothered if hair not parted exactly straight or hair not precisely same length on each side of the head.,
• Fear of saying the wrong thing or not saying it “just right”.,
• Need for exactness related to feared consequences.,
• Excessively bothered by things not sounding “just right.”,
• Finds certain sounds irritating. Examples: “sh” sound, lisps, static/noise, sniffing,coughing, ticking clocks, dripping water. (Distinguished from irritability not specific to O.C.D.),
• Arranging and re-arranging objects to prevent bad outcomes.

When does O.C.D begin?

O.C.D affects all ages, from children to full-grown adults.

O.C.D can begin when you're a child (more common among ages 10-12); organising toys, having to carry out specific tasks, not stepping on cracks etc., these usually disappear with age.

For adults, O.C.D normally begins in the teens or early twenties, it can develop later on but isn't as common.

How bad can O.C.D get?

Quite a lot of sufferers don't develop really serious obsessive and compulsive behaviour, but for those who do, living a normal life can become very difficult and sometimes impossible.