Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Each person suffers from OCD describes slightly differebt problems. In geneal people with OCD experience obsessions. These are thoughts, pictures or impulses which are usually unpleasant and come into mind when we dont want them. Many things can trigger these obsessions, and they usually leave the person feeling very anxious, uncomfortable and frightened. The compulsion is the behaviour performed in order to put right the obsession. Sometimes the behaviour performed is quite irrational (and the OCD sufferer recognises this) such as constantly cleaning or even checking. Sometimes the behaviour is more closely related to the obsessessional thoughts such as washing hands many times to avoid thoughts of contamination. Most people with OCD know that their compulsions are unreasonable or over the top but they feel unable to control their thoughts or change their behaviour.
Many people experience obsessions and compulsions and are able to live with this without problems. People may think about seeking help when their lives are becoming disrupted by these unwanted thoughts and actions.
OCD affects us in a number of ways
What We Think
obsessional thoughts and images that they can get out of our mind
Guilty thoughts
Tense
Anxious
Agitated
Compulsions - Someting we feel we must do such as a ritual
Avoidance
Seeking Assurance