How to Know If You Have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Do you tend to keep all your things arranged and tidy? Do you think you have OCD just because you are extremely neat and organized? Well, that’s not the case with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. This can be one of the many symptoms of OCD but, this is not the case for everyone. It’s a misconception that people with OCD are extremely neat and organized. And if this is not OCD, then what it is? How would you know you have OCD?

In this blog, you will learn about the signs of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder through which you can know if you or anyone of your loved ones have OCD.

Well, OCD or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a chronic mental illness that involves obsession, compulsion or both. Obsession is the thoughts or urges to do repetitive things and compulsion is the resulting behavior that helps in relieving the obsessive thoughts. By asking a few important questions we will let you know if you have OCD or not. The answers to those questions are the signs of OCD.

What are the signs of OCD?

No, keeping your things in their proper place is not a sign of OCD, nor keeping your house neat and clean is. You will have to get into it to know more about OCD and its symptoms. As we already discussed cleanliness and good organizational skills are not the signs of OCD, now we will let you know the actual signs of OCD.

Well, one of the major components of OCD is doubt. Due to this, it is sometimes even called ‘doubting disorder’. If you have completed a task, but your mind tricks you into questioning it even when you are completely sure of it, then this must be the starting stage of obsessive compulsion. This nonsensical thought takes over logic and memory. You know you are right but your thoughts are asking you to do it again in the correct manner. This may include checking the door lock again and again and washing repeatedly the same dishes. Well, people living with OCD experience repetitive thoughts of the urge to repeat any work.

Examples of compulsive behaviours in OCD are: –

• Washing your hands frequently
• Counting or repeating specific phrases
• Organizing or aligning items in a specific way
• Reassuring things by asking others
• Touching something again and again
• Hiding objects that you may use to hurt yourself or others

If you want to know whether you have OCD or not, then ask a few important questions yourself that are given below: –

• Do you experience unwanted repetitive and persistent thoughts that scare you or give you anxiety?
• Are you constantly worrying about dirt, germs, moulds, or other harmful substances?
• Do you ever fear contamination from people or the environment and get involved in extreme cleaning?
• Do you think you have forgotten something really important but don’t remember what exactly and fear the consequences?
• Do you repeat specific things or actions over and over to ease your anxiety?
• Do you often experience the need to constantly check on a few things like lock the door, check the lights or appliances, etc.?
• Do you engage in a few things that help you ease your anxiety like counting, cleaning, or checking?
• Do you have any intrusive thoughts that are aggressive like hurting yourself or any of your loved ones?
• Do you experience insomnia?

These are the questions that you should ask yourself to know if you have OCD or not. Another major factor to consider is if your obsessions and compulsions interfere with your ability to function or if you spend more than an hour performing ritualistic behaviour to avoid angst.

Well, answering a yes to some or many of the questions given above doesn’t necessarily mean you have OCD. But there are still the chances of having this disorder. Only an experienced practitioner or psychiatrist can help you diagnose the problem and provide appropriate treatment.

What causes OCD?

Experts have not found the actual reason that causes OCD. But, the risk factors may include:

• Family history condition
• Brain structure and functioning
• Childhood trauma

This disorder usually occurs at a young age, especially when you are a teen or a young adult. And younger boys are more affected by this than girls.

How is OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) diagnosed?

You should consult your healthcare professional. He will check your medical conditions and ensure that no physical condition is not causing any OCD symptoms. If they find it connected with mental health illness then they will refer you to one of the best psychiatrists in Delhi. Your psychiatrist will diagnose the problem.

But, OCD is quite difficult to diagnose as the symptoms are quite similar to other disorders. And it is also possible to have another mental disorder with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. But, you need not worry if you have visited the city’s best psychiatrist. He will diagnose the problem and suggest medication or therapies according to your condition.

We hope everything about OCD is now clear to you. The answer to whether you have OCD or not is clear now. And don’t think that keeping things arranged and tidy are the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Concluding Words

While there is no cure for OCD, professional treatment and coping strategies recommended by experts can help you manage or even minimize or even vanish the impact of OCD in your day-to-day life. Therefore, you should always take emotional support from your family members or friends. Or, book an appointment with one of the best psychiatrists in Delhi to diagnose OCD and improve the quality of your life overall.