What is OCD?

Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety-related condition that affects around three quarters of a million people in the UK.

A person may experience frequent intrusive and unwelcome obsessional thoughts, known as obsessions. 

Obsessions

Obsessions are repeated thoughts, urges, or images that are intrusive, unwanted, and cause anxiety. 

Some common obsessions can include;

• Fear of germs or contamination 
• Fear of losing something
• Fear of harming yourself or others by mistake – for example, fear you may set the house on fire by leaving the cooker on
• A need for symmetry or orderliness
• Fear of deliberately harming yourself or others 

These thoughts are classed as OCD if they cause significant distress or have an impact on your quality of your life.

Compulsions

Compulsions start as a way of trying to reduce or prevent anxiety caused by the obsessive thought. People often recognise these compulsions to be illogical and irrational but cannot stop completing them just in case something happens. 

Common types of compulsive behaviour in people with OCD include:

• cleaning and hand washing
• checking – such as checking doors are locked or that the gas is off
• counting
• ordering and arranging
• asking others for reassurance
• repeating words in their head
• avoiding places and situations that could trigger obsessive thoughts

What can you do about it?

• refer yourself directly to a qualified counsellor
• see you GP – they may prescribe suitable medicine or refer you to a local service
• Educate yourself about OCD 

If you wish to discuss support for your OCD please contact me directly.

For further information please see https://www.ocduk.org/