Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

It has been found that Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is classified as a type of anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorder is the experience of prolonged, excessive worry about circumstances in one's life, especially related to future (immediate or long term).

 

A person may have distressing repetitive thoughts, impulses or images that are intense, frightening, absurd, or unusual. These thoughts are followed by ritualized actions (repetitive in performance) that are usually irrational. These actions could be like –

·         washing hands,

·         washing clothes,

·         cleaning table,

·         cleaning house,

·         etc.

 

These ritual actions, known as compulsions, help reduce anxiety caused by the individual's obsessive thoughts. The person suffering usually knows the obsessive thoughts and compulsions are irrational but, on another level, fears they may be true.