Find out if you're just being careful or have OCD!

Have you ever double-checked that you locked the door before leaving your house? Or made sure you didn’t leave the stove on, or lock your car a couple of times just to make sure?

Double-checking is a pretty common behavior and almost everyone does it.

But what if you feel the need to check four, five, or six times before you’re satisfied ?

Then maybe you have an obsession.

Now let’s say you have a habit with your front door that you do each time before leaving. Like making sure you closed the door all the way, then listening to the clicking sound when the door closes, then patting yourself down to make sure you have the keys, then locking it and listening to the locking sound, and then leaving the house.

Then that might be a compulsion.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD, is a type of anxiety disorder characterized by these obsessions or compulsions.

Obsessions are consistent, unwanted thoughts which cause some type of anxiety or fear that something bad will happen that are hard to get rid of.

These unwanted thoughts, like “I think I didn’t lock my door” can lead to compulsions which are actions taken in order to relieve the anxiety caused by these obsessions.

Fun fact: A lot of celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio, Jessica Alba and Cameron Diaz also suffer from OCD.

Although OCD involves obsessions and compulsions, having both is not necessary for a diagnosis. One can have either obsessions or compulsions and still be diagnosed with OCD. However, most people develop both characteristics.

Some common compulsions include cleaning which arises from an obsession with germs. You’ll see patients with this type constantly cleaning their hands and are very careful about what they touch.

Another one is repeating where they repeat a certain action like locking and unlocking a door several times because they think if they don’t something bad might happen.

Always arranging things even if it’s not necessary can also be a compulsion because they might feel anxious and uncomfortable about things being out of order.

Now let’s talk about the criteria for an OCD diagnosis.

First one is that patients have to have obsessions, compulsions, or both.

Second, these obsessions and/or compulsions need to be time consuming and taking up more time that it needs to like constantly readjusting things in your car which might make you late for work.

Thirdly, these obsessions and compulsions must NOT be a result of a substance or a drug, or another medical condition.

Lastly, these symptoms are not better explained by another condition.

The exact cause of OCD is yet to be known, though it’s been linked to genetic and environmental factors.

For example, identical twins are more likely to be affected, if the condition runs in the family, than non-identical twins.

Past experiences like getting sick from touching something dirty or if your house was robbed can make you more conscious about these things in the future and can trigger OCD symptoms.

Treatment can include psychotherapy or medication. A specific treatment in psychotherapy seems to be very effective. It’s called exposure and response.

This is where patients are exposed to a situation which can trigger their OCD but without taking action to relieve their obsession. This shows patients that their anxiety can lessen when a compulsion action is not carried out.

Another treatment is Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI) which proves to be an effective drug treatment. However, due to the side effects it causes, patients may need further treatment with medications or psychotherapy.

With the right plan and treatment, people often return to having normal and healthy day-to-day activities.