Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by thoughts or actions that are repetitive, distressing, and intrusive. OCD suffers usually know that their compulsions are unreasonable or irrational, but they serve to alleviate their anxiety. Often, the logic of someone with OCD will appear superstitious, such as an insistence in walking in a certain pattern. OCD sufferers may obsessively clean personal items or hands or constantly check locks, stoves, or light switches.

This pattern of behaviour causes many suffer to have a life full of compromise and can affect all areas of life. Gaining control over this takes patients, understanding and time. Getting to the source of the anxiety can be done through therapy and may alleviate these symptoms to enable a fuller life to emerge, instead of one fuelled with compulsions to repeat the act.