OCD, or obsessive-compulsive disorder, is an anxiety disorder characterized by obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. The thoughts create nervousness or fear that lead to compulsions or rituals to get rid of the feelings, the American Academy of Family Physicians explains. If you have constant thoughts and repeated behaviors that interfere with your daily life, you may have OCD, which is treatable.
Obsessive Thoughts
OCD may result in fears of germs or being contaminated by touching objects or other people. You may have feelings of causing harm to a loved one or to people in general while in traffic or performing some activity. Obsessive thoughts can make you feel as if you are unable do tasks properly and need constant reassurance. Aggressive or disturbing thoughts may occur, and you may fear having evil or sinful thoughts. Persistent sexual images or thoughts occur to some people with OCD. Recurrent thoughts, impulses or images can lead to anxiety or distress when you have OCD, according to PsychCentral. The excessive thoughts are not necessarily about problems in real life. You might try to ignore or suppress the thoughts with another thought.
Compulsive Behaviors
Obsessive thoughts can cause you to perform repetitive acts to reduce anxiety or distress. You may not trust your own mind and, for example, fear you have caused an accident by running over something, returning to the scene several times to make sure it didn't happen. OCD behaviors include repeatedly checking locks or looking several times to make sure lights are turned off. If you have a fear of germs, you may find yourself repeatedly washing your hands or cleaning objects and counters. The compulsions may get you into a routine of having objects in perfect order or facing a certain way in your home or at the office. These behaviors often are performed to prevent a dreaded act or situation, PsychCentral notes, but they are not connected to real situations.
Realizations
You may realize the thoughts and behaviors are excessive and irrational if OCD has become distressful, time consuming and destructive to your work, family or social activities. However, you may find you cannot control the thoughts and actions. Physical reactions also result from OCD, the Mayo Clinic points out. Hair loss or bald spots occur because of constant hair pulling. Skin lesions occur when picking at your skin. Frequent hand washing can lead to dermatitis, an inflammation of the skin.
