OCD is irrational, it's cruel and it's so, so frightening. Obsessions are intrusive and scary thoughts that you become haunted/obsessed by (i.e the thought of dying from cancer, images of murdering your spouse, abusing your child, blasphemous thoughts of God if you are religious).
Unable to feel like their thoughts are just thoughts, people with OCD develop a strong distress response — their mind and body are constantly on high alert. Tolerating this distress is extremely difficult, so people feel the need to do something about the thoughts.
For someone without OCD, it may still be difficult to fully understand how an insignificant thought has such power over a person, and it's not easy to explain, but OCD is an anxiety disorder, and such thoughts of fear or danger cause a huge increase in anxiety for the person affected, anxiety that remains high.
Feeling intense levels of stress or anxiety when something is out of place. Fear of contamination when something touches you or you touch something. Fear of saying the wrong thing at the wrong time to the point where you hesitate to speak, even when spoken to. Unpleasant or unwanted sexual images.
You might feel upset that you are capable of having such thoughts. Remember: obsessions are not a reflection of your personality. People with OCD are very unlikely to act on their thoughts.
Symptoms of OCD – obsessions
Obsessions are usually exaggerated versions of concerns and worries that most people have at some time. Common obsessions include: fear of contamination from germs, dirt, poisons, and other physical and environmental substances.
If you haven't guessed, OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) wins the award for the anxiety category most of us would relegate solely to the violent criminals of this world. Unless of course, you suffer from OCD, and then you'd likely fear that wishing that may result in becoming a violent victimizer yourself.
Untreated OCD can be traumatic
If you live with untreated OCD long enough, you can begin to feel traumatized by the experience of having the disorder.
The mechanics of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder can leave you worrying that the worst-case scenario — your worst fear — is always looming. These intrusive thoughts distort reality. A person with OCD may not be able to tell the difference between minor and serious risks.
Once a mental health problem becomes severe enough that it has a significant impact on your life, it is then considered to be a psychosocial disability. Mental health diagnoses that can potentially fall into the category of psychosocial disability may include: Bipolar disorder. Obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Violent thoughts may involve both mental images and impulses to act. These can include those in which people see themselves hitting, stabbing, strangling, mutilating, or otherwise injuring their children family members, stranger's pets, or even themselves.
Borderline personality disorder is one of the most painful mental illnesses since individuals struggling with this disorder are constantly trying to cope with volatile and overwhelming emotions.
Here are some examples of reasons why you may feel scared to let go of your OCD: 'It helps relieve my anxiety' 'It protects me from falling apart, I need it to survive' 'Something very bad will happen if I do'
You might harbor the fear that you're a bad person who wants to hurt others. You might have thoughts like, “I'm a bad person for having such horrible thoughts.” Harm OCD can make you doubt your identity as a non-violent person.
People with OCD may have symptoms of obsessions, compulsions, or both. These symptoms can interfere with all aspects of life, such as work, school, and personal relationships. Obsessions are repeated thoughts, urges, or mental images that cause anxiety. Common symptoms include: Fear of germs or contamination.
Experts aren't sure of the exact cause of OCD. Genetics, brain abnormalities, and the environment are thought to play a role. It often starts in the teens or early adulthood. But, it can also start in childhood.
Sometimes, people with OCD may become so fixated on their routines and rituals that they are unable to focus on the needs of their partner. This can lead to the partner feeling neglected, which can then lead to resentment and anger that can lead to abusive behavior.
Giving into the compulsions will typically make OCD worse by fueling the vicious cycle of obsessions and compulsions. While doing a compulsion may initially provide relief and feel like the only way to ease your anxiety, the more compulsions you do, the more OCD will want from you.
Harm OCD. Harm OCD causes people to be deeply disturbed by the violent thoughts that just about everyone has experienced. While most people are able to shrug off these thoughts, those with harm OCD can become completely overwhelmed by them.
ASD and OCD can sometimes have similar symptoms. However, they are different conditions. Research from 2015 found that 17% of people with ASD also have OCD. This is higher than the percentage of people with OCD in the general population.
OCD obsessions are repeated, persistent and unwanted thoughts, urges or images that are intrusive and cause distress or anxiety. You might 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.
Fears about contamination, germs, and cleanliness are very common with OCD, which may lead to problems with physical closeness, being touched and overall affection. That said, those with OCD are prone to intimacy issues.
“OCD symptoms can intensify during times of stress or when you feel like life is getting out of control.” People with OCD regularly experience extreme, yet unnecessary, worry. Obsessive and uncontrollable thoughts can interfere with life to the point of serious disruption.
OCD is a common, long-lasting disorder characterized by uncontrollable, recurring thoughts (obsessions) that can lead people to engage in repetitive behaviors (compulsions). Although everyone worries or feels the need to double-check things on occasion, the symptoms associated with OCD are severe and persistent.