Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can be characterized by primarily obsessions, primarily compulsions, or a combination of both.
The American Psychiatric Association’s definition for obsessions (found in the DSM-IV) is:
- Recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses, or images that are experienced, at some time during the disturbance, as intrusive and inappropriate and that cause marked anxiety or distress.
- The thoughts, impulses, or images are not simply excessive worries about real life problems.
- The person attempts to ignore or suppress such thoughts, impulses, or images, or to neutralize them with some other thought or action.
- The person recognizes that the obsessive thoughts, impulses, or images are a product of his or her own mind.
The definition of compulsions (found in the DSM-IV) is:
- Repetitive behaviors (e.g., hand washing, ordering, checking) or mental acts (e.g., praying counting, repeating words silently) that the person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession or according to rules that must be applied rigidly.
- The behaviors or mental acts are aimed at preventing or reducing distress or preventing some dreaded event or situation; however, these behaviors or mental acts either are not connected in a realistic way with what they are designed to neutralize or are clearly excessive.
If you are just now considering that you may have OCD, do not be discouraged by this label. Whether you call it anxiety or OCD, there is absolute hope for recovery. If you are struggling with persistent unwanted thoughts that cause you great anxiety or distress, I would encourage you to seek out a therapist who has experience treating Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.