What Is OCD?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition that affects individuals of all ages and areas of life. It develops when a person becomes trapped in a cycle of obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are unwelcome, intrusive thoughts, visions, or impulses that cause a great deal of discomfort. Compulsions are actions that a person participates in to free himself or herself of obsessions and/or reduce suffering. Although most people have obsessive thoughts and/or compulsive actions at some time in their life, this does not indicate that we all have "some OCD." This cycle of obsessions and compulsions must become so intense that it occupies a lot of time and gets in the way of essential things that the individual values to be diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Obsessions are ideas, images, or urges that recur repeatedly and feel out of control to the person. OCD sufferers despise having these ideas and find them distressing. The majority of persons with OCD are aware that their ideas are illogical. Obsessions are often accompanied by intense and unpleasant sensations such as dread, disgust, uncertainty, or a sense that things must be done “just right.” Obsessions are time demanding and come in the way of vital tasks that the individual values in the setting of OCD. This final point is critical to remember since it helps to evaluate whether someone has OCD, a psychiatric illness, or an obsessive personality characteristic.

Unfortunately, the phrases "obsessing" and "being obsessive" are widely employed in everyday speech. Someone is obsessed with a topic, a concept, or even a person in these more informal meanings of the word. In this sense, being "obsessed" isn't an issue in everyday life, and it even has a pleasant aspect to it. Despite being "obsessed" with a new song you hear on the radio, you can still meet a friend for dinner, get ready for bed on time, get to work on time in the morning, and so on. Many with OCD have a hard time hearing this use of the word "obsession" because it makes them feel as if their struggle with OCD symptoms is being minimized.

Even if the obsession's content is more serious, for example, everyone has had a passing thought about getting sick, or worrying about the safety of a loved one, or wondering if a mistake they made might be catastrophic in some way; this does not mean that these obsessions are necessarily symptoms of OCD. While these ideas appear to be the same as those seen in OCD, someone without OCD may have them and be disturbed for a short time before moving on. In reality, studies have shown that most people have unwelcome intrusive thoughts from time to time, but in the case of OCD, these intrusive thoughts occur frequently and cause significant anxiety, which interferes with daily functioning.
Not all repetitive actions or "rituals" are compulsions, just as not all obsessions are. You must consider the behavior's function as well as its surroundings. Bedtime rituals, religious activities, and learning a new skill, for example, all need some amount of repetition, but they are generally a good and functional aspect of everyday life. The setting determines how people act.

If a person works at a library, arranging and sorting books for eight hours a day is not a requirement. Similarly, if you are a stickler for details or enjoy having things perfectly organized, you may exhibit "compulsive" habits that may not fit under OCD. In this context, "compulsive" refers to a personality characteristic or a feature of oneself that you appreciate or enjoy. In most situations, people with OCD feel compelled to participate in obsessive behavior and would prefer not to undertake these time-consuming and often painful activities. Compulsive conduct is used to try to escape or minimize anxiety or the presence of obsessions in people with OCD.

By: Samaira Sachdeva
Delhi Public School, Gautam Buddh Nagar