What are the risk factors for OCD?Īlthough the exact causes of OCD are unknown, various risk factors increase the chances of developing the disorder.

If left untreated, OCD symptoms can become severe and interfere with daily life. If you think you or your child may have OCD, talk to a health care provider. Parents or teachers typically recognize OCD symptoms in children. However, children may not realize that their behavior is out of the ordinary and often fear that something terrible will happen if they do not perform certain compulsive rituals. Many adults with OCD recognize that their compulsive behaviors do not make sense. People with OCD might avoid situations that trigger their symptoms or use drugs or alcohol to cope. A person’s obsessions and compulsions also may change over time. During times of stress, the symptoms often get worse. The symptoms of OCD may start slowly and can go away for a while or worsen as time passes. Most people with OCD are diagnosed as young adults. OCD symptoms may begin anytime but usually start between late childhood and young adulthood. It is common for people with OCD to also have a diagnosed mood disorder or anxiety disorder. Vocal tics include things like repetitive throat-clearing, sniffing, or grunting sounds. Motor tics are sudden, brief, repetitive movements, such as eye blinking and other eye movements, facial grimacing, shoulder shrugging, and head or shoulder jerking. Some people with OCD also have a tic disorder involving repetitive movements or sounds.

Experience significant problems in daily life due to these thoughts or behaviors.

Don’t get pleasure from their compulsions but may feel temporary relief from their anxiety.

Spend more than 1 hour a day on their obsessions or compulsions.

Can’t control their obsessions or compulsions, even when they know they’re excessive.

Not all repeated thoughts are obsessions, and not all rituals or habits are compulsions. Recognizing OCD: How to know if your symptoms are OCDĮveryone rethinks or double-checks things sometimes.

Repeatedly checking things, such as that the door is locked or the oven is off.

Ordering or arranging items in a particular, precise way.

Desire to have things symmetrical or in perfect orderĬompulsions are repetitive behaviors a person feels the urge to do, often in response to an obsession.

Unwanted, forbidden, or taboo thoughts involving sex, religion, or harm.

Aggressive thoughts toward others or oneself.Fear of losing control over one’s behavior.Fear of forgetting, losing, or misplacing something.Obsessions are repeated thoughts, urges, or mental images that are intrusive, unwanted, and make most people anxious. People with OCD may have obsessions, compulsions, or both. However, treatment is available to help people manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life. People with OCD have time-consuming symptoms that can cause significant distress or interfere with daily life. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a long-lasting disorder in which a person experiences uncontrollable and recurring thoughts (obsessions), engages in repetitive behaviors (compulsions), or both.

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