What are the symptoms of OCD?
The two primary symptoms of OCD are obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are disturbing, repetitive thoughts that flash across a person’s mind hundreds or thousands of times a day. These thoughts can be unwanted, scary, bizarre, gross and even funny. The nature of a person’s thoughts is often related to the things they care about most in life. For example, a religious person may experience intrusive thoughts about assaulting god.
Compulsions can also come in many different forms. Some people engage in physical compulsions to minimize their anxiety. Common examples include counting, tapping and excessive washing. These are often called “rituals.” But for others, compulsions are invisible. They happen inside their minds and can’t be picked up by others. CBT therapy refers to them as "internal verbal behaviors". For example, if someone has an obsession that they said something offensive during a conversation, they may replay that conversation in their head over and over again, or avoid interacting with that person the next time they see them.
Common Obsessions Symptoms:
• Intrusive Thoughts
• Unwanted Thoughts
• Repetitive Thoughts
• Racing Thoughts
• Violent Thoughts
• Sexual Thoughts
• Blasphemous Thoughts
Common compulsions Symptoms:
• Avoidance
• Reassurance Seeking
• Checking
• Hand Washing
• Excessive Prayer
• Counting
• Comparison Seeking
• Excessive Guilt