How do you know if you are struggling with OCD?

Here are six signs that commonly appear when people are struggling with OCD:

• Often think about harming yourself or someone else.
• Constantly fear being contaminated by germs or contaminating others.
• Fear you might lose control.
• Having unwanted sexual thoughts.
• Having a religious obsession.

Is overthinking a part of OCD?

With OCD, the compulsive behavior is directly related to the excessive thought. For example, someone who counts their money every hour may have an obsessive fear someone will steal it or they will lose it.

Does OCD mean you’re crazy?

These kinds of obsessions are particularly unwanted and people who experience them would never want to act on them. Having them DOES NOT mean you are crazy, dangerous or evil deep down inside.

Do people with OCD really want control?

OCD can wreak havoc on every part of someone’s life. It doesn’t help that the people around them misunderstand their symptoms, calling them control freaks, neat freaks, obsessive, “sort of OCD” or whatever else. As it turns out, people with OCD don’t really want control (in the form of neatness, or cleanliness, or whatever else).

Does OCD get worse with age?

The symptoms of OCD can worsen with age if left untreated. Those diagnosed with OCD in adolescence have a 60\% chance of the illness becoming a lifelong disorder without the guidance of a mental health professional. In most cases, OCD symptoms can be alleviated with time and treatment, but others will be classified as chronic.

What does it feel like to have OCD?

Unable to feel like their thoughts are just thoughts, people with OCD develop a strong distress response– their mind and body go on high alert. Tolerating this distress is extremely difficult, so people feel the need to do something about the thoughts.

Is obsessive-compulsive disorder serious?

OCD is a serious mental illness that can become debilitating if left untreated. It is characterized by high levels of fear, anxiety, and emotional distress. In severe cases of OCD, the disorder can prevent the individual from functioning in daily life, interfere with relationships and responsibilities, and significantly impact quality of life.