Anxiety Tips & Tricks

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

A/N: Not much today, just go get a drink and some snacks. Please enjoy and Consider voting!

   🍭🍭🍭🍭🍭🍭🍭🍭🍭🍭🍭🍭🍭🍭🍭🍭

What is OCD?
Excessive thoughts (obsessions) that lead to repetitive behaviors (compulsions)

OCD is characterized by unwanted thoughts or behaviors that seem impassable to stop or even control/tame. If you have OCD, you maybe troubled by obsessions. For example, you could have reoccurring worry about something or the fear of hurting someone. You also might suffer from from uncontrollable compulsions; example: washing your hands over and over again. OCD is a life-long disorder that could potentially get worse over time. OCD is a serious issue and should not be taken lightly, it is just as serious as all the other mental disorders.

Understanding Obsession:
OCD obsessions are repeated, persistent and unwanted urges or images that causes distress or anxiety. There's a chance that the people will try and get rid of this urge by performing a compulsion; these obsessions typically intrude when you're trying to think of/or do things!

Obsessions Themes, such as:
• Fear of contamination or dirt
• Having items orderly, tidy and symmetrical
• Aggressive or horrific thoughts about harming yourself or others
• unwanted thoughts (could include aggression, or sexual or religious subjects/topics)

Signs & Symptoms of OCD:
~ Fear of being contaminated by shaking hands or by touching objects that have been touched by other
~ Doubts that you've locked doors or turned off oven/ other appliances
~ Intense stress when objects aren't orderly or in a certain way
~ Images of hurting yourself or others
~ Thoughts about shouting obscenities or acting inappropriate
~ Avoidance of situations that could trigger obsessions (ex. Shaking hands)
~ Distress about unpleasant sexual images repeating in your head.

Understanding Compulsion:
OCD compulsions are repetitive behaviors that you feel driven to perform. These repetitive behaviors are meant to prevent (or reduce) anxiety related to your obsessions or prevent something bad from happening. However, engaging in the compulsions brings no pleasure & may offer only a temporary relief from anxiety.

Compulsion themes, such as:
•Washing & cleaning
•Counting
•Checking
•Demanding Reassurance
•Following a strict routine
•Orderliness

Examples of compulsion signs & symptoms:
• Handing washing until your skin becomes raw
• Checking doors repeatedly to make sure they're locked
• Checking the stove 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

A/N: Thanks for Reading!

{Word Count: 402 words}