Obsessive-compulsive disorder usually includes both obsessions and compulsions. But it's also possible to have only obsession symptoms or only compulsion symptoms. You may or may not realize that your obsessions and compulsions are excessive or unreasonable, but they take up a great deal of time and interfere with your daily routine and social, school or work functioning. Obsession symptoms OCD obsessions are repeated, persistent and unwanted thoughts, urges or images that are intrusive and cause distress or anxiety. You might try to ignore them or get rid of them by performing a compulsive behavior or ritual. These obsessions typically intrude when you're trying to think of or do other things. OCD Obsessions often have themes to them, such as:  Fear of contamination or dirt Doubting and having difficulty tolerating uncertainty Needing things orderly and symmetrical Aggressive or horrific thoughts about losing control and harming yourself or others Unwanted thoughts, including aggression, or sexual or religious subjects  Examples of obsession signs and symptoms include:  Fear of being contaminated by touching objects others have touched Doubts that you've locked the door or turned off the stove Intense stress when objects aren't orderly or facing a certain way Images of driving your car into a crowd of people Thoughts about shouting obscenities or acting inappropriately in public Unpleasant sexual images Avoidance of situations that can trigger obsessions, such as shaking hands  Compulsion symptoms OCD compulsions are repetitive behaviors that you feel driven to perform. These repetitive behaviors or mental acts are meant to reduce anxiety related to your obsessions or prevent something bad from happening. However, engaging in the compulsions brings no pleasure and may offer only a temporary relief from anxiety. OCD You may make up rules or rituals to follow that help control your anxiety when you're having obsessive thoughts. These compulsions are excessive and often are not realistically related to the problem they're intended to fix. As with obsessions, compulsions typically have themes, such as:  Washing and cleaning Checking Counting Orderliness Following a strict routine Demanding reassurance  Examples of compulsion signs and symptoms include:  Hand-washing until your skin becomes raw Checking doors repeatedly to make sure they're locked Checking the stove repeatedly to make sure it's off Counting in certain patterns Silently repeating a prayer, word or phrase Arranging your canned goods to face the same way  Severity varies OCD usually begins in the teen or young adult years, but it can start in childhood. Symptoms usually begin gradually and tend to vary in severity throughout life. The types of obsessions and compulsions you experience can also change over time. Symptoms generally worsen when you experience greater stress. OCD, usually considered a lifelong disorder, can have mild to moderate symptoms or be so severe and time-consuming that it becomes disabling.
obsessive-compulsive disorder includes obsessions compulsions  it's possible only obsession symptoms only compulsion symptoms  may may realize obsessions compulsions excessive unreasonable  take great deal time interfere daily routine social  school work functioning  obsession symptoms ocd obsessions repeated  persistent unwanted thoughts  urges images intrusive cause distress anxiety  try ignore rid performing compulsive behavior ritual  obsessions typically intrude you're trying think things  ocd obsessions themes them  as:  fear contamination dirt doubting difficulty tolerating uncertainty needing orderly symmetrical aggressive horrific thoughts losing control harming unwanted thoughts  including aggression  sexual religious subjects  examples obsession signs symptoms include:  fear being contaminated touching objects touched doubts you've locked door turned stove intense stress objects aren't orderly facing way images driving car crowd people thoughts shouting obscenities acting inappropriately public unpleasant sexual images avoidance situations can trigger obsessions  shaking hands  compulsion symptoms ocd compulsions repetitive behaviors feel driven perform  repetitive behaviors mental acts meant reduce anxiety obsessions prevent bad happening  however  engaging compulsions brings pleasure may offer only temporary relief anxiety  ocd may rules rituals follow help control anxiety you're obsessive thoughts  compulsions excessive realistically problem they're intended fix  obsessions  compulsions typically themes  as:  washing cleaning checking counting orderliness following strict routine demanding reassurance  examples compulsion signs symptoms include:  hand-washing skin raw checking doors repeatedly sure they're locked checking stove repeatedly sure it's counting patterns silently repeating prayer  word phrase arranging canned goods face way  severity varies ocd begins teen young adult years  can start childhood  symptoms begin gradually tend vary severity life  types obsessions compulsions experience can change time  symptoms generally worsen experience greater stress  ocd  considered lifelong disorder  can mild moderate symptoms severe time-consuming disabling
obsessive compulsive disorder