OCD

OCD AWARENESS WEEK

OCD Awareness Week (October 11-17, 2020) is an international effort led by the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) to raise awareness and understanding about OCD and related disorders, with the goal of helping more people get access to evidence-based treatment and resources. 

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disorder in which people have recurring, unwanted thoughts, ideas, or sensations (obsessions) that make them feel driven to do something repetitively (compulsions). Repetitive behaviors, such as hand washing, checking on things, or cleaning, can significantly interfere with a person’s daily activities and social interactions.

Here are some key points which I’ve focused on as a part of an awareness campaign that would help you understand and evaluate your behavior.

Typical obsessions:

  • Fear of getting contaminated by people or the environment
  • Disturbing sexual thoughts or images
  • Fear of blurting out obscenities or insults
  • Extreme concern with order, symmetry, or precision
  • Recurrent intrusive thoughts of sounds, images, words, or numbers
  • Fear of losing or discarding something important

Typical compulsions:

  • Excessive or ritualized hand washing, showering, brushing teeth, or toileting
  • Repeated cleaning of household objects
  • Ordering or arranging things in a particular way
  • Repeatedly checking locks, switches, or appliances
  • Constantly seeking approval or reassurance
  • Repeated counting to a certain number

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