Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition where you suffer with obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviour. OCD can affect you in different ways, from a mild OCD to severe where it actually affects the quality of your life.

Obsessions such as repetitive, obtrusive, unwanted thoughts are experienced and result in unreasonable fears and compulsions.  These compulsions become rituals that are acted 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.

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 and having undesirable sexual thoughts.

However, it is possible to experience obsessive thoughts only and not have the desire to carry out a compulsion. For further help, please call 07870 127 650 : email me direct : use contact form