While some people who are exceptionally clean have OCD, others do not have a mental disorder. The difference is in whether the desire to clean comes from obsessive thought and compulsions or simply a desire. More to the point, a person only has OCD if the symptoms cause disruption and mental anguish.
Some people with OCD do have compulsions around cleanliness and order. However, this is not a diagnostic requirement nor the only way OCD manifests. It's important to acknowledge this because people living with OCD who aren't focused on cleaning might find it difficult to look for and accept their diagnosis.
repeating words in their head. thinking "neutralising" thoughts to counter the obsessive thoughts. avoiding places and situations that could trigger obsessive thoughts.
According to the American Psychiatric Association, an OCD diagnosis requires “obsessions and/or compulsions that are time-consuming (more than 1 hour a day), cause significant distress, and impair work or social functioning.”
Maintaining a clean and tidy home is usually a sign of good emotional health. When cleaning becomes obsessive, however, an underlying mental disorder may be the cause. Obsessive fears of contamination along with cleaning and sanitizing compulsions is one of many subtypes of OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder).
The bottom line
OCD can manifest in four main ways: contamination/washing, doubt/checking, ordering/arranging, and unacceptable/taboo thoughts. Obsessions and compulsions that revolve about contamination and germs are the most common type of OCD, but OCD can cover a wide range of topics.
Symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
If you have OCD, you'll usually experience frequent obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours. An obsession is an unwanted and unpleasant thought, image or urge that repeatedly enters your mind, causing feelings of anxiety, disgust or unease.
People struggling with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) are often misdiagnosed as having other psychological conditions. One of the most common misdiagnoses for this population is Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). This diagnostic problem arises for two reasons.
Signs and symptoms of OCD
Obsessive thoughts: These obsession symptoms typically intrude other thoughts when you're trying to do or think about other things and may include: Fear of being contaminated by germs or dirt. Intrusive sexually explicit or violent thoughts. Fear of having a serious illness.
Constantly seeking approval or reassurance. Rituals related to numbers, such as counting, repeating, excessively preferencing or avoiding certain numbers. People with OCD may also avoid certain people, places, or situations that cause them distress and trigger obsessions and/or compulsions.
While both mental health conditions involve repetitive worrying, people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) often engage in unwanted and repetitive behavior in response to their worry. People with anxiety, however, tend to overthink their worry, but don't act in specific responsive manners.
OCD typically begins in adolescence, but may start in early adulthood or childhood. The onset of OCD is typically gradual, but in some cases it may start suddenly. Symptoms fluctuate in severity from time to time, and this fluctuation may be related to the occurrence of stressful events.
The early signs of OCD are repetitive behavior, persistent worrisome thoughts, and rituals. The earlier you notice the symptoms of OCD, the faster you can get professional treatment. While there isn't yet a cure for OCD, it's possible to control the condition with medication and therapy interventions.
Students with OCD may appear to be daydreaming, distracted, disinterested, or even lazy.
A neat freak is a person who likes being clean and keeping their space clean. It is a quality or habit of cleanliness that a person may like or prefer. In contrast, OCD is a disorder which causes obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviour, disturbing daily life and routine.
01 Pure O is a form of OCD in which a person experiences obsessive, unwanted thoughts without visible compulsions or rituals. 02 Many people spend years or decades living with undiagnosed OCD because they are unfamiliar with Pure O.
It's an important scientific insight, but it's not a diagnostic test. The fact is, the vast majority of the time, a brain scan in someone with OCD looks completely normal. What about outlier cases?
Common themes of intrusive thoughts, also called “spikes,” include violent, taboo, or outright terrifying intrusive scenarios. The graphic nature of these thoughts and their intensity can make life unbearable for those who suffer. As with all forms of OCD, the thoughts are uncontrollable.
More than one quarter of all adults have experienced obsessions and compulsions but did not meet all the criteria for an OCD diagnosis.
The more you attempt to either push away or to "understand" the thought, the "stickier" the thought becomes. When the thought feels uncontrollable and "sticky" and the efforts to get rid of it don't bring a lasting relief, this may be a sign that your OCD got you on the hook again.
You should visit your GP if you think you may have OCD. Initially, they will probably ask a number of questions about your symptoms and how they affect you. If your GP suspects OCD, you may need to be referred to a specialist for an assessment and appropriate treatment. Read more about diagnosing OCD.
Mild OCD can look like regular OCD but to a lesser intensity, such as: Washing your hands after certain food prep. Counting the number of times you may step/walk in the home. Some hoarding behaviors such as keeping specific types of items.
If you think you might have OCD, see a doctor or a psychiatrist. The diagnosis process will likely include: A physical exam to see if your symptoms are due to a health condition. Blood tests to check your blood count, how well your thyroid works, and any drugs or alcohol in your system.
Harm OCD. This subtype of OCD involves intrusive thoughts of harming others or committing some sort of violent act. Someone who suffers from these types of thoughts experiences significant distress, because thoughts of harming others are inconsistent with their values and who they are.