Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a potentially disabling mental disorder characterized by recurring, unwanted thoughts and compulsive behaviors. A person realizes these obsessive thoughts are irrational, but cannot stop them. The obsessions, usually disturbing and depressing, cause anxiety. The anxiety and obsessions can only be relieved by performing certain behaviors, called compulsions. The relief, however, does not last long and the person must perform the behavior again when the obsession returns. There are different categories of obsessive-compulsive disorder, but cognitive-behavioral therapy, medication and exposure and response therapy are effective treatments.
Washing
Some people with OCD are afraid of germs and being contaminated, and may repeatedly wash their hands or shower. Fear of germs may lead a person to avoid touching doorknobs, eating certain foods for fear of cross-contamination and touching other people for fear of coming into contact with another person's bodily fluids.
Checking
People with OCD often have a compulsion to check and recheck. Making sure stoves are turned off or doors are locked are compulsions that a person with OCD feels like he must do, even if he rationally knows that the door is locked or the stove is turned off. Checking and rechecking can interfere with daily life when it becomes excessive.
Hoarding
People with obsessive-compulsive disorder who hoard feel compelled to acquire possessions, and are afraid to throw things away for fear something bad will happen. Hoarding causes a significant amount of clutter in a person's living space, impairing basic living activities such as cooking and cleaning. Hoarders become emotionally attached to items that seem of little use of others. Hoarding can pose a threat to public health, especially when items hoarded include food or animals.
Counters/Arrangers
Some OCD sufferers are obsessed with numbers, order and symmetry. A person with this type of OCD will count in his head or aloud while performing tasks, and often feels the urge to arrange certain things in a certain way, or eat their food in a certain order. Often people with this type of OCD will obsess about performing a task a certain amount of times, even if it was done correctly the first time.
