Home Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Obsessions are recurrent thoughts, impulses or images experienced as intrusive or inappropriate, that cause marked anxiety or distress. These are not simply excessive worries about real life problems. The person attempts to ignore suppress or neutralize them with some other thought or action. The person recognizes these as a product of his or her own mind.

Compulsions are repetitive behaviors (e.g., hand washing, ordering, checking) or mental acts (e.g., praying, counting, repeating words silently) that the person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession or according to rules that must be rigidly applied. The behaviors or mental acts are aimed at preventing or reducing distress or preventing some dreaded event or situation. The behaviors or mental acts are not connected in a realistic way with what they are designed to neutralize or prevent or are clearly excessive.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a potentially disabling illness of endless cycles of repetitive thoughts and behaviors. This OCD cycle can progress to the point of taking up hours of the person's day and significantly interfering with lifestyle activities. People with OCD may be aware that their obsessions and compulsions are senseless or unrealistic, but they cannot stop themselves.

The symptoms of OCD vary, however, common obsessions include:

• Fear of germs or dirt
• Fear of causing harm
• Fear of making a mistake
• Fear of embarrassment
• Fear of committing evil, a “sin”
• Need for order or symmetry, or exactness.
• Excessive doubt and the need for constant reassurance.

Common compulsions include:

• Repeatedly bathing, or washing hands
• Refusing to shake hands or touch doorknobs
• Repeatedly checking things, such as locks or stoves
• Counting, mentally or aloud, while performing routine tasks
• Constantly arranging things
• Focusing on disturbing images or thoughts
• Repeating specific words, phrases, or prayers
• Collecting items of little or no apparent value.

If you or a family member has these symptoms and daily life is being compromised as a result, you may wish to contact your physician’s office or Dr. Westerback’s psychiatric office by calling (805) 497-1618 to arrange a consultation.