The symptoms of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) cover a broad range of characteristics and features. In this rather extensive list, it is hard not to find something that maybe you do quite often. It is a fact that will probably make anyone, even you, to think about that fact if you are at any risk of developing OCD.
Yes, probably there is a great number of people who have rather odd choices about organizing their lives, but that does not mean they are ill.
It is normal to have fears and worries, as long as we can control them and find a suitable solution to solve these situations. No matter how big a concern is, the adaptive nature of the human will always find a way to put an end to this situation. So you don’t have to worry about getting OCD, just because some things frighten you.
Signs that might indicate you are suffering from OCD
If you still want to know what are the signs that can send you to see a doctor in the OCD matter, there are a couple of things that might indicate it. It is no easy thing, but if you catch yourself in these situations rather often, then you might want to see a doctor:
1. Frequent washing of hands
The fear of being contaminated by germs is the most common obsession in OCD patients. So if you feel the urge to wash your hands very often, or you are addicted to a hand sanitizer, then this could be a relevant sign.
2. Continuous cleaning
Have you ever experienced the feeling that the objects around you are never clean enough? You think that there are germs everywhere, and you spend hours every day to clean your house thoroughly? What is a regular habit of house cleaning can turn into an obsession under these circumstances.
3. Too much checking
In this case, you always have the feeling you left the stove on, or the windows are not properly closed, the doors are not locked and you check every faucet in the house to see if it’s turned off. And you always come back checking in a repetitive manner, losing precious minutes, even hours.
Medical symptoms correlated with OCD
The symptoms regarding OCD can be connected with only obsessions or compulsions, it can be both, and can be even behavioral tics (sudden and intermittent moves or sounds you make).
Symptoms regarding obsessions may include:
• Not shaking hands or touching anybody else because of the fear of being contaminated with dangerous germs.
• Constant doubts regarding the fact that the stove or the faucet are not closed.
• An increased stress when you see things that are not organized in a manner you consider to be correct.
• Thoughts depicting obscenities and violent actions arise in your mind.
• You feel distress because thoughts with sexual manner are repeating inside your head.
• There is a constant fear that you, or someone you love, might get hurt.
Symptoms regarding compulsions may look like this:
1. Excessive hand washing, until you get irritations and lesions on the skin’s surface.
2. When you arrange your cans, you always put the label in order to face you.
3. You keep repeating a particular phrase, like a prayer or a word.
4. Continuously checking the doors, the stove, and the windows, to see if they are closed.
5. You always count in a particular manner.
The symptoms may start gradually and, in the beginning, they may not look that severe. But, as a person will advance in age, the symptoms will slowly aggravate. These are just a couple of symptoms, but the disease can manifest differently for any of us. So if you have doubts or you notice that certain aspects of your behavior are not normal, comparing to the other persons around you, you should ask a doctor.
