Have you ever had to question yourself multiple times if the door was locked or the stove was off? For most people, this is nothing more than an instant thought. But for someone who lives with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), that thought and behavior can escalate into an exhausting cycle — overwhelming, painstaking, and emotionally draining. OCD is more than just being organized or a “perfectionist.” OCD is a mental health condition that is characterized by persistent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and multiple times of the same repeated behavior or rituals (compulsions) that people feel compelled to do. These rituals are not being done for enjoyment — they are being done to cope with the anxiety that comes with the obsession.
In this blog, we will take a look at what OCD behaviour looks like, how it looks in everyday life, and how understanding its presence in ourselves is the first step to being compassionate and supportive. Let’s get away from the myths and take a closer look at what it looks like to live with OCD.
What is OCD Behaviour?
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder involves a persistent cycle of obsessions and compulsions that disrupt an individual’s daily life to a significant degree. Obsessions are intrusive thoughts, images, urges, or a combination thereof that an individual finds themselves thinking about, even though the person knows that these thoughts are unwanted and do not reflect their true feelings. Obsessions lead to anxiety for individuals, so as a means to counteract the anxiety, individuals engage in compulsions – the repetitive behaviors or mental acts that people do in response to their obsessions with the goal of dampening their anxiety regarding obsessions or preventing a feared event from occurring. This does not mean that OCD behaviors are merely habits, preferences, or quirks.
OCD behaviors are a series of compulsive thoughts or compulsive behaviors which capabilities an individual does not have control over and can lead to extreme emotional distress. Over time, observing these behaviors can impact work, relationships, and overall well-being. This also can cause everyday tasks to feel overwhelming and lead to emotional fatigue. It is vital for individuals to appreciate this cycle of obsessions and compulsions in order to be able to demonstrate appropriate levels of support and empathy.
Obsessions
- severe anxiety or uneasiness. They typically involve thoughts that are about a recurring fear, or an unsettling idea that an individual has trouble dismissing.
- Examples of obsessions can include a fear of germs or contamination, fear of harming oneself or somebody else, intrusive and unacceptable sexual or violent thoughts, too much attention on order, symmetry, or exactness, or often a sense of needing to get them “just right.” Obsessions often occur in an unwanted, enduring way, or distressing way, and after an extended time can lead to significant impairment with focus, relaxation, or functioning in daily life.
Compulsions
Compulsions are the behaviors or mental actions that one performs to alleviate the anxiety related to obsessions. They typically occur with some sense of repetition and are driven by an overwhelming desire to prevent something feared from happening, or to reduce severe anxiety. Some examples of compulsions are washing or cleaning excessively, checking locks or appliances multiple times, checking personal items, counting, tapping or repeating expressions, putting things in particular orders, or continuously seeking reassurance from other people. Compulsions are not enjoyable; they are performed to reduce anxiety, but the relief they provide is short-lived.
Causes and Risk Factors of OCD Behaviour
It is thought that many different factors may act together to bring on the disorder.
- Genetic factors appear to be quite important. OCD often runs in families, which suggests that genetics are involved.
- Brain structure and function appear to be factors in OCD, as some differences have been found in two neural circuits that regulate emotions and higher-order cognitive functions like decision-making.
- Environmental factors also play a role, as biological and psychological factors may contribute to the emergence of a patient’s symptoms, especially after a traumatic event or experience during which the patient was abused as a child or major life transitions.
- Personality factors may also be involved, as some researchers have suggested that traits acquired like being overly perfectionistic or detail-oriented somewhat increase the likelihood of OCD symptoms. Neurochemistry features in patients with OCD, where some researchers have speculated that abnormal levels of serotonin may play a role in these symptoms.
How OCD Behaviour Impacts Daily Life
For individuals experiencing OCD, an entire day may be dedicated to engaging in the same behavior again and again in order to relieve the distress of being internally torn. Everyday tasks may feel impossible. For example, it may take two hours to leave the house because you check if the door is “correctly” locked, or you may simply be too afraid to touch the doorknob because you may think that it is contaminated with germs. Some people may also hide their compulsions due to embarrassment, which may make the burden of struggle feel even more isolating. In the most severe cases of OCD, the behavior can interfere with maintaining employment, creating and maintaining important relationships, basic self-care, education, and the quality of life.
Treatment Options for OCD Behaviour
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) represents the most efficacious psychological treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder, with a special emphasis on Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), generally regarded as the “gold standard.” ERP entails exposing individuals to their feared stimulus in a graduated manner in order to allow clients to tolerate the stimulus without engaging in compulsive behaviors. For example, a person may be urged to touch a doorknob without washing his or her hands immediately after.
There are many OCD therapists in New York that will tailor programing for you and specialize in ERP. In addition, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can be prescribed, including fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, and sertraline, in order to normalize serotonin levels in the brain and dampen the symptoms of OCD. In particularly severe cases, an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) may be beneficial, where clients receive several instances of therapy throughout the week. There are also support groups and peer networks that can help individuals connect and learn coping strategies, and using holistic interventions such as mindfulness, yoga, and appropriate sleep may further bring about relief.
Conclusion
The way to regain control of your life begins with understanding your OCD behaviours. Regardless of whether you have just become aware of your compulsions or you have been experiencing them for many years, the decision to request help is a powerful and courageous one. Whether you or someone else in your life are dealing with obsessive-compulsive behaviours, we recommend you to get help. In New York City, there are a variety of qualified OCD specialists ready to help you through, including CBT and ERP. Don’t let OCD control your life one more day. The right OCD therapist in NYC can help you move away from the cycle of obsessions and compulsions which can replace it with a life of freedom, clarity, and peace.
References
- “Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) – Symptoms and causes.” Mayo Clinic, 21 December 2023, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20354432
- “Symptoms – Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).” NHS, https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/symptoms/
- “Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) – National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).” National Institute of Mental Health, https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd
- Begum, Jabeen, et al. “OCD: Types, Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Related Conditions.” WebMD, 4 April 2024, https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/obsessive-compulsive-disorder
