Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a specific type of anxiety condition consisting of unreasonable thoughts and fears, states the Mayo Clinic. Obsessions refer to persistent thoughts stemming from fears. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors that are the result of the thoughts. Many patients realize their obsessions are unrealistic or excessive, but this only increases their distress. Psychological counseling and medication have been shown to be effective in managing the symptoms of OCD.
Obsessions
Obsessions can intrude into the mind and prevent the completion of other thoughts. Thoughts often follow a pattern or theme. The Mayo Clinic says such thoughts can include fear of contamination, germs, dirt, or disorder or more aggressive or sexual impulses. People may have images around these themes that are hard to contain. For example, parents may obsess about possibly hurting their child and experience a vivid mental picture of doing so. Other examples are constant worrying over whether doors or windows have been locked and inability to focus on anything other than symmetry or orderliness.
Compulsions
Like the obsessive thoughts, compulsions revolve around themes like contamination, ritualistic checking, hoarding or ordering, states Dr. Steven Phillipson, Ph.D. People may create rituals to help control the anxiety or fear felt with the disorder. Rituals may include repetitive cleaning, hand washing, automatically counting repetitions of sounds or objects and organizing surroundings so that they are completely orderly.
More Than Perfectionism
Perfectionism is not a disorder recognized by psychologists. It is a symptom of such disorders as OCD, anxiety and manic behavior. It is not troublesome for a person to prefer things to be orderly and "perfect" according to the ideals they hold in their mind unless they spend most or all of their time obsessing over the perfection.
People may have characteristics of OCD that aren't excessive enough to warrant an official diagnosis. But for other people, the time spent thinking the thoughts and carrying out the behaviors can be so great that completing anything else becomes impossible. Quality of life may be diminished by the need to fulfill all the rituals just to manage anxiety. Adults and children may feel "crazy" or ashamed of their behaviors but powerless against them. The thought processes may linger for a lifetime, but treatment can help alleviate some of the anxiety surrounding the condition.
