Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is experienced by many adults – and children – throughout the United States. OCD is considered a mental health disorder that includes obsessions (unwanted thoughts) and compulsions (repeated actions). Oftentimes, television shows try to depict OCD in certain ways – such as a character knocking on the door a certain number of times or needing to wash their hands a certain number of time before being able to move on. However, it’s important to note that obsessions of OCD can be much different from what tends to be depicted.
When certain actions take place within OCD, it’s often the obsession that’s driving the ritual. If the ritual isn’t performed, a person can feel disgusted, scared, or even angry. The following are common obsessions associated with OCD:
- Contamination: household chemicals, bodily fluids, dirt, gum, disease and more can all be major concerns for someone whose OCD centers around contamination.
- Losing control: with this type of OCD, a person may fear that they’ll hurt someone or “go crazy” – they may constantly find themselves looking for signs that something is wrong.
- Harm: people may fear that they’ll accidentally hurt someone, and may even take exrtreme precations to ensure something like this doesn’t happen
- Perfectionism: concerns with evenness or exactness, worrying about needing to know or remember something, fear of losing valuable information, having difficulty deciding which items should be discarded
- Unwanted sexual thoughts: fear of sexual thoughts or perverse images in one’s head, worries about homosexuality, concerns over perverse thoughts regarding children or incest, obsessions regarding aggressive sexual behavior towards others
- Religious obsessions: being morally wrong may be a sincere OCD concern for some people, including fearing that they’ll disobey God in some way, shape or form
- Other: there are many other types of OCD that don’t fit into these categories; for example, a person may have an OCD obsession with lucky numbers or superstitions, etc.
Avalon Malibu is a world-renowned, California state-licensed mental health and substance abuse recovery center. If you are ready to seek treatment to develop the tools you need to overcome life’s obstacles and be on the road towards happiness, health, and well-being, call us today at 844-857-5992 for a consultation. It’s never too late, and there are people here ready to help you – it’s never too late to begin taking steps towards a happier, healthier life.
