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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition. It involves having persistent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and doing repetitive actions (compulsions) to reduce the anxiety caused by these thoughts. OCD can affect daily life, relationships, work, and overall well-being.
Signs and behaviours to look for include
These are unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that keep coming into the person’s mind, causing anxiety or distress. Common obsessions include fears of contamination, harming others, or making mistakes.
These are repetitive actions (like washing hands, checking locks, or counting) that a person feels they must do in response to an obsession or according to strict rules. These behaviours are done to relieve anxiety or prevent a feared event, even if they seem excessive or irrational.
For someone to be diagnosed with OCD, the time spent on obsessions and compulsive behaviours must be more than 1 hour a day and make it hard for the person to function in daily life.
The obsessions and compulsions cause significant distress, anxiety, or disruption in work, school, or relationships.