How to Recognize Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Symptoms

Oftentimes, people who are perfectionists or who are particularly concerned with ideals such as organization and cleanliness are branded as being obsessive compulsive. However, these characteristics are not indicative of a true case of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Genuine obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is much more insidious than this and can often have a significantly adverse effect on a person's quality of life. If you suspect you might have OCD, you must learn to recognize the symptoms.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Psychologist or psychiatrist

Recognize the Symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

1. Take note of the frequency of your recurring thoughts and the degree of anxiety they produce. If you're having the same repetitive thoughts five or more times a day without being able to control them and feel a significant amount of anxiety whenever these thoughts occur, this is a strong indicator of OCD.

2. Learn what constitutes a compulsion. In OCD, a large number of sufferers attempt to alleviate the anxiety produced by their obsessions by performing ritualistic physical actions. These actions are done with the thought of preventing whatever bad outcome is imagined in the obsession. If you perform these kinds of compulsive rituals, you could have OCD.

3. Notice how long you spend each day performing compulsive rituals. If you are spending an hour or more each day on your compulsions, you are likely to have genuine OCD.

4. Ask yourself whether your obsessions and compulsions are rational. Most people with true OCD realize their obsessions and compulsions are a product of their own minds and not rational at all. However, they don't feel able to stop them on their own.

5. Realize that if you are constantly trying to hide your compulsions from others and if you feel your quality of life is suffering, you could very well have OCD.

Tips & Warnings

• Only a psychiatrist or psychologist can recognize the symptoms of OCD accurately enough to give a sound diagnosis. If you have symptoms that make you think you may have OCD, a visit to a qualified mental health professional is the only way to confirm it.
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder can often bring on feelings of depression, especially when the OCD is a long-standing condition that has gone untreated. The depression is usually brought on by feeling alone, abnormal and not in control of your own actions. Once the OCD is being successfully treated, these feelings of depression usually subside. However, if they don't go away, or if they get worse, let your therapist know right away.

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