Obsessive compulsive disorder is when an individual has certain thoughts and compulsions in order to overcome the feeling provoked by the thought.
It is when the individual has a certain unpleasant or negative thought, like thought about death, or being dirty is repeatedly occurring to the individual or it can be said that the individual is obsessed by the thought. These thoughts give rise to anxiety in the individual.
As a result of being anxious the individual may display certain behaviours to overcome and deal with the feelings initiated by the thoughts, some behaviours are like washing hands, arranging things in the environment in order, counting etc. If during such behaviours the individual is disturbed or asked to stop, it would disturb the individual and trigger the anxiety again. Once again to reduce the anxiety the ritual behaviour to overcome the thought would be repeated.
Some common obsessive thoughts are:
· Fear of contamination.
· Fear of hurting someone.
· Violent or thoughts sexual in nature.
· Religious ideas.
· Thoughts of things being perfect in terms of order and symmetry.
· Superstitious thoughts.
Some common behaviours are:
· Double-checking on people and things.
· Counting, tapping, repeating certain words.
· Cleaning activities like having a bath or washing hands.
· Ordering or arranging things.
· Excessive praying.
· Collecting junk like newspapers, used bottles etc.
It is when the individual has a certain unpleasant or negative thought, like thought about death, or being dirty is repeatedly occurring to the individual or it can be said that the individual is obsessed by the thought. These thoughts give rise to anxiety in the individual.
As a result of being anxious the individual may display certain behaviours to overcome and deal with the feelings initiated by the thoughts, some behaviours are like washing hands, arranging things in the environment in order, counting etc. If during such behaviours the individual is disturbed or asked to stop, it would disturb the individual and trigger the anxiety again. Once again to reduce the anxiety the ritual behaviour to overcome the thought would be repeated.
Some common obsessive thoughts are:
· Fear of contamination.
· Fear of hurting someone.
· Violent or thoughts sexual in nature.
· Religious ideas.
· Thoughts of things being perfect in terms of order and symmetry.
· Superstitious thoughts.
Some common behaviours are:
· Double-checking on people and things.
· Counting, tapping, repeating certain words.
· Cleaning activities like having a bath or washing hands.
· Ordering or arranging things.
· Excessive praying.
· Collecting junk like newspapers, used bottles etc.