OCD often centers around certain themes, such as being overly fearful of getting contaminated by germs. To ease contamination fears, you may wash your hands over and over again until they're sore and chapped. If you have OCD , you may be ashamed, embarrassed and frustrated about the condition.
Cleaning Compulsions
For example, someone with this type of OCD may wash their shoes, credit cards, cell phone, or other things that may have come into contact with as these items may be considered dirty or contaminated.
OCD episodes can manifest differently from person to person. Some common themes of an OCD episode include fear of contamination, checking behaviors, obsession over symmetry and order, intrusive thoughts, fear of harming others, hoarding tendencies, perfectionism, and religious or moral obsessions.
The 15-minute rule is a strategy used to manage compulsions in OCD. The idea is to delay engaging in compulsive behaviors for at least 15 minutes after an intrusive thought or anxiety-provoking situation. This helps break the cycle of reassurance-seeking or ritualistic behaviors.
The 333 rule is a grounding technique that redirects attention from intense and uncomfortable anxiety symptoms (like worry, unwanted thoughts, or even panic) to the present by shifting focus to three bodily senses: sight, hearing and touch/movement.
Any uptick in OCD symptoms can be referred to as a flare-up. When symptoms spike, you may notice an increase in intrusive thoughts, an increase in the distress they cause, and an increased urge to engage in compulsions.
The compulsions generally are excessive and ritualised behaviours, involving constant repetitions. For example, a person with OCD may spend 2-3 hours every day in the shower, and several more hours hand washing, or washing clothes, food and household items.
It is also possible for professionals to mistake OCD for other possible conditions, including: major depressive disorder (MDD) eating disorders. tics or Tourette's syndrome.
Doubts are one of the most common types of intrusive thoughts. The doubts can be about big or small aspects of your life. For example, intrusive thoughts might cause you to question your relationship or sexual orientation.
Spending an excessive amount of time cleaning and organizing each day, to the point where it interferes with other responsibilities or activities. Feeling distressed or anxious when things are not clean or tidy, and feeling a compulsion to clean even when it is unnecessary.
Common compulsive behaviors in OCD include:
Excessive double-checking of things, such as locks, appliances, and switches. Repeatedly checking in on loved ones to make sure they're safe. Counting, tapping, repeating certain words, or doing other senseless things to reduce anxiety.
The findings underscore a notable discrepancy in average life expectancy, with individuals with OCD succumbing to premature mortality at an average age of 69, in contrast to their counterparts without the disorder, who lived until an average age of 78.
There are a variety of conditions that have obsessive compulsive disorder qualities that are quite similar to OCD such as PANDAS, body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), hoarding disorder, trichotillomania, compulsive skin picking, hypochondria, and olfactory reference syndrome.
It has been established that cluster-C personality traits are common in patients with OCD. It is noteworthy that the present study found that cluster-B personality traits (borderline and narcissistic traits) were common in patients with OCD.
Another notable figure who suffered from severe OCD was the inventor and billionaire Howard Hughes, who lived in extreme isolation and ultimately died from complications related to his condition. Leonardo DiCaprio portrayed him in the film The Aviator and has also spoken about his own OCD symptoms and recovery journey.
Megan Fox has talked openly about her struggles with OCD and mentioned that she attended therapy as a child and an adult to help her manage a fear of germs. The condition caused her to wash her hands so frequently that they bled, as well as obsessive thoughts that she still struggles with today.
Increased stress often exacerbates symptoms of OCD. Intrusive thoughts become stronger, making it harder to manage compulsions. Simple tasks like leaving the house become challenging due to the need for constant checking. Coping with OCD requires effective strategies, especially during high-stress periods.
There appear to be two peaks of incidence of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), one with a pre-adolescent onset and another in early adulthood. As new cases are added, the cumulative prevalence of OCD increases, but the great majority of cases have an onset in youth.