How to Identify Signs of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (also known as OCD) is an anxiety disorder that afflicts many people. It is easy to identify signs of OCD because most people consider the things that people with OCD do to be “odd." While many people have quirks, the things that people with OCD do are more extreme than mere quirks. OCD can be difficult to manage and, in extreme cases, can even take over a person’s life. Here is how to identify signs of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Observation of a person’s behaviors
• Understanding of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

1. Understand what Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is. OCD is an anxiety disorder. The person with OCD experiences anxiety. That anxiety builds and is only relieved when the person performs certain rituals, such as washing her hands exactly three times. If the person is prevented from completing the ritual, she experiences very strong additional anxiety and, in extreme cases, can even have a psychotic episode. You can easily identify signs of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder once you know what to look for.

2. Notice if the person always wants certain things done in a certain way. While many people have strong preferences about a “right” and “wrong” way to do something, people with OCD are much more rigid. For example, a person with OCD might need the dishwasher to be loaded in a certain way. If another person loads the dishwasher differently and washes the dishes, a person with OCD will reload the dishwasher with the clean dishes the “right” way and then wash them all over again.

3. Pay attention to repetition. Many people with OCD must do certain tasks a specified number of times, such as checking that the alarm clock is set exactly three times. The person cannot rest until he has checked the alarm clock exactly three times.

4. Observe the reaction to not completing the ritual. OCD is easy to spot if you knot that the person becomes extremely agitated by not being able to complete a ritual, such as checking a deadbolt, exactly five times.

5. Explore if the person hoards particular objects. One sign of OCD is hoarding certain items, such as saving every receipt from the past 20 years. If you try to reduce the number of objects (such as suggesting that all receipts that are over 10 years old be thrown away), then the person will become extremely agitated.

6. Recognize the underlying anxiety. A sign of OCD is underlying anxiety. A person with OCD is very likely to be an anxious person who experiences temporary relief by completing certain rituals. It is easier to identify signs of OCD after you notice the underlying anxiety that is driving the behavior.

Tips & Warnings

• A good therapist can identify the signs of OCD and help a person heal from the underlying anxiety that is driving the obsessive-compulsive behavior.
• Do not try to interfere with the rituals of a person with OCD. The rituals are coping mechanisms that help the person manage her underlying anxiety. If you remove the rituals, the person will become extremely anxious and, in some cases, might even have a psychotic episode.

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[ursaminor]

on 6/17/2008 Excellent, clear, informative article, as always. It seems as though OCD is becoming more prevalent nowadays, though it may just be more noticeable. 5 stars.