Individuals with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) may have a preoccupation or a mental personal obligation to a certain task. These obsessive thoughts and urges, or repetitive behaviors, are usually beyond the individual’s control and affect their job, school and relationships. Obsessive compulsive disorder is not the same as having nervous habits like biting nails. An obsession would be thinking an individual will be at risk of injury if they do not put their clothes on in a certain order each morning. Compulsive habits might include turning the door lock several times or flipping the light switch a specific amount of times, every time.
These symptoms may include:
- Needing to have items in symmetrical or perfect order
- Fears of losing something
- Fear of germs or sickness
- Fear of harm coming to self or others
- Excessive cleaning of a body part
- Repeatedly counting items and checking on things such as checking door locks or if the oven is turned off
