Obsessions and Compulsions

How do you know if you have OCD?

Do you have trouble trying to control what you think, or feel unable to stop yourself from doing things over and over?

If your thoughts or the things that you do often feel overwhelming or uncontrollable, then you may have a problem with obsessions and compulsions. This can sometimes be called obsessive compulsive disorder, or OCD for short.

If you’re having this sort of problem, you might recognise some of the common experiences described below:

How your body might feel

• Fast or shallow breathing
• Increased heart rate
• Tension or tightness in your muscles, headaches
• Restless, unable to relax
• You may notice pains when worrying more
• Trembling
• Dry mouth
• Sweating
• Nausea/feeling sick
• Exhaustion

Thoughts you might have

• “If I keep clean, nothing bad will happen”
• “I don’t want to have these thoughts”
• “Unless I do my ritual, I’ll never stop feeling like this”
• “My rituals are out of control”
• “I’ve got no time for anything because of my rituals”
• “Having these thoughts makes me a bad/mad/dangerous person”

Feelings you might have

• Feel guilty for having “bad” thoughts
• Disgust e.g. when having thoughts about uncleanliness or infection
• Anxiety and fear e.g. worry that if you don’t do your ritual, you or others will come to harm
• Anger e.g. at yourself when you feel unable to stop doing rituals

Things you might do

• Monitor your thoughts very closely
• When you notice a “bad” thought, try to avoid it
• Check on things e.g. locks, appliances, if you “feel clean”
• A ritual which temporarily helps you feel better e.g. wash your hands, recite a saying or phrase in your mind

If these sound familiar to you, you can find out more about obsessions and compulsions in the ‘Learn’ section above. You’ll also find some helpful tips and strategies for managing obsessions and compulsions in the ‘Manage’ section below.