Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
In OCD, people experience recurring, unwanted ideas or thoughts that make them feel driven to do something repetitively (compulsions). The repetitive behaviors, such as checking on things, cleaning or hand washing, can significantly interfere with an individual's daily activities and social interactions.
Some examples of compulsions:
- Cleaning to reduce the fear that germs, chemicals, or dirt will "contaminate" them some spend many hours washing themselves or cleaning their surroundings.
- Repeating to dispel anxiety, some people utter a phrase or name or repeat a behavior several times. They know these repetitions won’t actually guard against injury but fear harm will occur if the repetitions aren’t done.
- Checking to reduce the fear of harming oneself or others by, for example, forgetting to lock the door or turn off the gas stove, some people develop checking rituals. Some people repeatedly retrace driving routes to be sure they haven’t hit anyone.
- Ordering and arranging to reduce discomfort, some like to put objects, such as books in a certain order, or arrange household items “just so,” or in a symmetric fashion.
- Mental compulsions to response to intrusive obsessive thoughts, some people silently pray or say phrases to reduce anxiety or prevent a dreaded future event.
Schedule an OCD Consultation with Our Psychiatric Specialists at our St. Louis Park Clinic
The psychiatric specialists at West End Consultation Group take a caring and comprehensive approach to assessing and treating OCD in adults. At your initial consultation, we look at your lifestyle, current medications, and your overall health to create an obsessive compulsive disorder treatment plan based on your needs. Schedule an appointment today.
