The Mental Health Foundation describes obsessive compulsive disorder, (OCD), as “a type of anxiety disorder characterized by intrusive and frequent obsessions and repetitive and ritualistic behaviors”. Symptoms of OCD may include obsession over contamination with cleaning compulsions, hoarding, symmetry obsessions with ordering compulsions, obsession over possible danger/harm with checking and preventative compulsions, and other non-visible thought obsessions. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors that you feel driven to perform to help cope with triggers of fear, uncertainty, disorder/disorganization, and lack of control.
The term OCD often gets tossed around to describe someone who is a “perfectionist” or more of a Type A personality, but one who truly qualifies as having OCD experiences debilitating stress that can impact their overall quality of life. This only deepens the pre-existing wounds they may carry and eventually create a cycle of more symptoms to manage.
According to the Mayo Clinic, 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
Additionally, as with obsessions, compulsions typically have themes, such as:
- Washing and cleaning
- Checking
- Counting
- Orderliness
- Following a strict routine
- Demanding reassurance
From a Mind Map Perspective
It is important to note that the relief one gets from these compulsive behaviors is a temporary relief to distinguish anxiety. Compulsive behaviors are like a band-aid, in that, you may be temporarily managing symptoms, but eventually anxiety and panic will arise again. You need to identify and address the cause of your obsessions. What am I really obsessing over? Why am I having these reactions/compulsions? Who (if anyone) can I tie this feeling to? When did this behavior start?
Unless you actively work to uncover the cause of your symptoms, anything else will be symptom management. Eventually, your symptoms will start to web into more obsessions that will need more rituals to calm your nervous system (again, temporarily). Here at the Psychological Healing Center, we don’t manage symptoms, rather help you uncover the cause so that you can be the cause of a better outcome for your life.
