Do you ever feel the urge to do something repeatedly even after the task is over? 
Or do you have horrifying thoughts that make you do things repeatedly? It may be the fear of contamination or dirt because of which you might wash your hands repeatedly till they are sore. You might feel the urge to arrange things in a certain order and symmetry. You might constantly walk around your home over and over again and check if all the doors are bolted due to the fear that someone might break into. If this is the case there is a high chance that you might be suffering from OCD - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.


You may try to ignore or stop your obsessions, but it only further intensifies your stress and anxiety. Ultimately, you are driven to perform those compulsive acts to ease your stress. Generally, it is pretty difficult to identify OCD unless it starts interfering with your daily life. 

People often confuse OCD with being a 'perfectionist'. But being a perfectionist is related to having the requirement of flawless results and performance, whereas OCD is something different. 

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder consists of both obsession and compulsion, but a few people might have either one. 
                    
Obsession comprises of persistent thoughts, urges and images that cause distress or anxiety. 
According to psychiatrists, obsessions often have themes such as – 

•  Fear of contamination and dirt
•  Having difficulty tolerating uncertainty
•  Needing things to be symmetrical
• Aggressive thoughts about losing control and harming oneself and others
• Unwanted sexual aggression 

The different signs of obsession from one’s daily life may include-

  • Being horrified by contamination; by touching objects others have touched
  • Repeatedly checking if the doors have been locked. 
  • Having unpleasant sexual images
  • Avoiding shaking hands
  • Facing intense stress when objects are not orderly or facing a certain way. 


Compulsion consists of repetitive behaviour that people are driven to perform. People feel relieved after performing the tasks but that relaxation is temporary. 
According to psychiatrists, compulsions have the following themes – 

•    Washing and cleaning repeatedly 
•    Checking 
•    Counting 
•    Orderliness 
•    Following a strict routine 
•    Demanding reassurance

 The different signs of compulsion from our daily life include-

  • Washing hands till the skin is raw. 
  • Checking repeatedly if the stove is     turned off. 
  • Silently repeating the same words or phrases. 
  • Arranging goods to face the same way. 
  • Counting things in patterns. 



The severity of OCD tends to vary throughout life. The types of obsessions and compulsions change with time and experience. The condition worsens with stress. OCD is a lifelong disorder and cannot be prevented entirely, but treatment can be provided. 
If you suspect that you might be suffering from OCD it is advised that you visit a doctor as soon as you can. It is nothing to be afraid of. With treatment, the symptoms of OCD and distress derived from it can be curbed.