What is it?What is it?
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can be looked at in two parts: obsessions – these are repetitive, obtrusive, unwanted thoughts that are experienced and result in unreasonable fears, and compulsions – acts or rituals carried out in response to fears generated by obsessions. The classic OCD condition is that of compulsive hand washing in response to an irrational fear of germs/contamination.
Sufferers of this disorder feel less anxious once they have carried out a compulsion. It is possible to experience obsessive thoughts only and not have the desire to carry out a compulsion. Examples of compulsions are excessive cleaning, counting, checking, measuring, and repeating tasks or actions. Trichotillomania (compulsive hair-pulling) may also be classified under the general umbrella of OCD. Examples of obsessions are worrying excessively about death, germs, illness (usually AIDS, cancer, etc. – this can also be classified as an ‘Illness phobia’), having undesirable sexual thoughts, fearing causing harm to others.
Types of OCD
Anxiety UK recognises that OCD presents itself in many forms. Along with the more classic forms described on this page, there are also some more specific variations. You can click on the links below to find out more about these particular conditions.
OCD fact sheet
To find out more information about OCD, click here to download a copy of our fact sheet.
DIY self diagnosis
If you can answer YES to most of the questions it is likely that you are affected by OCD.
During the past 2 weeks:
- Did you worry obsessively about contamination by germs/chemicals/dirt and/or that something bad might happen to you/other people, and/or that you might say something you didn”t want to that might upset others?
- Did you feel compelled to carry out certain behaviours?
- Did you check, count or repeat things over and over again?
Anxiety UK strongly advises that people seek further information and guidance from their GP who will be able to make a formal diagnosis.
How we can help
Anxiety UK is a user-led charity with more than forty years experience in supporting those living with anxiety. By becoming a member of Anxiety UK, you will have access to a range of benefits, including:
- Access to reduced cost therapy within two weeks of submitting your therapy request
- Access to our helpline (available Monday-Friday, 9:30 am – 5:30 pm) staffed by volunteers with personal experience of anxiety
- Receipt of four issues of Anxious Times, our quarterly members” magazine
- Access to the members only section of our website, featuring regular support surgeries facilitated by anxiety experts
- Access to specialist helplines, including the psychiatric pharmacy helpline and the psychology information helpline
And many, many other benefits that will help you manage your anxiety long term. To become a member of Anxiety UK click here or ring 08444 775 774 today.
Want to know more?
Overcoming Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a self help book based on cognitive behavioural therapy. It includes information on how to beat your rituals and deal with obsessional thinking. It has been highly rated by a number of individuals with OCD who have used it to overcome their symptoms. You can purchase a copy in the Anxiety UK online shop by clicking here.
Anxiety UK Publications
Anxiety UK publishes a fact sheet and audio tapes dealing with OCD available from the Anxiety UK online shop by clicking here.
Other Publications
Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust has produced two useful booklets for young people with OCD and their parents/carers. To download a free copy, click on the relevant link below:
Helpling your child with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (A young person’s self help guide)
The Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry has published a useful paper about the relationship between movement disorders and OCD that can be viewed here.
Recommended web siteshttp://www.iop.kcl.ac.uk – Centre for Anxiety Disorders & Trauma
- http://www.postnatalocd.org – Kings College London Treatment & Research into Postnatal OCD
|
Anxiety UK relies on donations to keep its services running. If you found this information useful please make a donation – no amount is too small.
|
 |
Find out how OCD can affect people’s lives, how they cope and how it can be treated on the NHS Choices website.
Personal experience
Do you suffer from OCD and want to share your experience with other people? Post your personal experience in the comments box below where it will be sent to our moderator for approval. Many people find this part of the site very useful when trying to understand their disorder so your comments really do make a difference. Please note, all comments submitted to the Anxiety UK website may be used by Anxiety UK for (but not limited to) publicity and promotional material.
If you would like to make contact with others who are living with similar experiences, you can do so via the Anxiety UK Pen-Pals scheme which is a service available to all Anxiety UK members (in both electronic and hard copy format).
I have OCD, but gladly I don’t feel that it controls me anymore – rather I control it.
I still feel uncomfortable when things are not how I want them. For example, I like my margarine to stay flat in the tub and I can’t stand people gauging out great lumps. I also hate crumbs or anything non-margarine in the tub. Also, I dislike things being off centre; shoes have to be side by side, and completely level at the front; books have to be in order from the largest to the smallest, and I like things being at right angles to other things. A few days ago, I spent half an hour completely unaware that I was adjusting a newspaper so that it was in line with the floorboards (I was watching TV at the time). These however are all little things, and they don’t control me like they used to do. For example, I don’t scrape the margarine flat anymore, I just get on with life. My hands are not as badly split because of washing them, although probably I still wash them a little too much. In short, I’m getting there, and without medication. I guess I am just looking at life with a little more common sense.
Emma
sending...
i have been suffering with OCD for as long aa i can remember and i also started developing compulisve behaviours to make me feel better, but also found this didnt last long before i had to do it again. I would have to touch things a certain amount of times like 4 or 8 times im not even sure why i do this but i feel like i have to. I havent spoken to my GP or doctor yet because im not sure if im being stupid, this bahviour makes me feel really uptight and uneasy like im battleing something inside of me
I began suffering with OCD when I was 18. I started to get intrusive thoughts when I felt very low (I am still not sure of exactly why they started at that point). I developed compulsive behaviours to help me feel better. But the relief was always very short lived and not longer after, I would have another thought which would have me in another tedious cycle of compulsions. I became very good at managing it and hiding it from my friends and family. Until, one day, when I was feeling particularly stressed, I confided in a friend. She urged me to go to my GP and, within the next few days I had booked an appointment and was sat in front of a doctor trying to to tell him what I had been going through for the past 5 years. I eventually told him everything and he listened. He didn’t judge me, he just listened. He confirmed that I had OCD and referred me for CBT therapy. I’m so grateful for his help. That was 2 years ago. I still struggle at times but the CBT gives you the tools to beat OCD. I would urge anybody to seek help via their GP. Its the first step which I am glad I took.