Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a condition in which repeated and irrational thoughts lead to undesired compulsive actions. The person exhibiting this behavior may have images or impulses in the mind that occur over and over again. Theses obsessive thoughts may be disturbing or uncomfortable, but the person feels they are out of control. Compulsive behaviors may follow to make the obsessions go away. The behaviors may include acts to counteract the thoughts or avoiding situations that may make the thoughts come true.
Habitual Cleaning
There may be a constant washing of the hands, taking several showers a day, or brushing teeth repeatedly. An obsessive-compulsive subject may constantly clean items in the house or at the office. The person may have a fear of contamination, dirt or germs or disgust with bodily waste or fluids.
Checking and Repeating
An obsessive-compulsive person has a fear of causing harm to himself or others, according to the International OCD Foundation. The person may fear causing damage from a fire, so repeatedly checking the stove to make sure all switches are off becomes a repeated procedure. Checking door locks a number of times may be common. People normally check appliances before leaving the home, but OCD behaviors drive the person to do this over and over again, even though it is obvious everything is fine.
Rituals
The obsession with something going wrong and taking unnecessary actions to prevent it may lead to daily rituals. These may be repeated actions, such as arranging items in a certain way, going in and out the door a certain number of times or doing other activities an exact number of times, the American Academy of Family Physicians notes. The actions may seem as if they are a superstitious way to prevent something terrible from happening.
Getting Reassurance
A person with OCD will often confess doing something or constantly ask for approval on actions in order to get reassurance. The person may have a strong dislike for the forbidden thoughts she is having about sexual impulses, religious blasphemy or concerns about morality. For the same reason, people with OCD repeat simple actions to make things right, they also need assurance that they are all right.
Avoiding Situations
The person may feel something horrible will happen, such as self-harm or harm to others, if a certain situation arises. A person with OCD may avoid walking down a certain street because of an incident that happened months or years ago. Avoiding these situations may take a lot of time out of their lives, but they are necessary actions for a person with OCD.
