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OCD is a serious mental disorder -

People who have OCD experience recurring, unwanted thoughts, ideas, or obsessions that make them feel driven to do something repetitively.

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OCD is a serious mental disorder -

Obsessions are persistent thoughts, urges, or impulses that people try, but often fail, to suppress. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or thoughts that people with OCD feel compelled to perform. If they don't carry them out, they can experience overwhelming feelings of anxiety and fear.

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A lot of people have OCD -

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimates that 1.2% of adults in the US have OCD.

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A lot of people have OCD -

Chances are that you know someone with OCD. People with OCD often feel ashamed of their obsessive thoughts and behaviors, and may struggle try to hide their compulsive behavior.

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OCD isn't a joke -

Some people seem to think OCD is a personality trait, like being a clean freak or organization junkie.

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OCD isn't a joke -

They may treat OCD as a funny quirk when, actually, there's nothing funny about it. In reality, it's anguish for the affected person.

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OCD is a type of anxiety, not psychosis -

People with OCD may have compulsive thoughts, but they don't lose touch with reality, such as people with schizophrenia.

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OCD is a type of anxiety, not psychosis -

OCD is characterized by obsessions and compulsions, but the way symptoms manifest vary from person to person. If you have OCD, you may also have a tic disorder and experience repeated motor movements like blinking or facial tics.

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OCD is more than a fear of germs -

People with OCD have widely varying obsessions. Some people are averse to germs and bodily fluids, so they may feel compelled to wash their hands or bathe excessively.

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OCD is more than a fear of germs -

Others ruminate about losing control, harming other people, or contracting a disease. And some obsessions relate to perfectionism.

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It's also not just about handwashing either -

People with OCD feel compelled to repeat certain thoughts or behaviors to counteract their obsessions, such as frequent handwashing.

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It's also not just about handwashing either -

Some people develop rituals that involve repeatedly tapping their fingers, repeating tasks in threes, and checking, and rechecking on things.

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OCD affects children and adults -

According to the NIMH, OCD is diagnosed in most people by age 19, typically with an earlier age of onset in boys than in girls.

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OCD affects children and adults -

While OCD can affect very young children as well, one has to be careful against jumping to conclusions. Kids can have a lot of ritualistic behaviors and routines that don't necessarily mean they have OCD.

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Life events can trigger OCD flare-ups -

In a 2012 study, researchers identified three traumatic events that were associated with an outbreak of OCD symptoms, especially in women.

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Life events can trigger OCD flare-ups -

Those traumatic events included: hospitalization of a family member, major personal physical illness, and loss of a personally valuable object. However, less severe life events can also bring on flare-ups.

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Many people with OCD hide it well -

People with OCD are quite good at keeping their condition a secret. In fact, the International OCD Foundation says it can take 14 to 17 years from the onset of symptoms for people with OCD to get appropriate treatment.

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Many people with OCD hide it well -

People with OCD often feel embarrassed about what they're doing, and so they tend to hide their symptoms from their families, friends, and co-workers.

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OCD can run in families -

While scientists don't know for sure why some people develop OCD, they think your genes likely play a role.

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OCD can run in families -

While no single gene has been identified, researchers know there is a genetic link from studies of twins, which showed when one twin has OCD the other is more likely to develop the condition.

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OCD may accompany other disorders -

OCD can occur along with anxiety, depression, and body dysmorphic disorder, a disorder in which someone mistakenly believes that a part of their body is abnormal.

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OCD may accompany other disorders -

According to the NIMH, about two-thirds of people with OCD will have at least one episode of major depression.

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Don't reassure people with OCD -

It sounds counterintuitive, but telling someone with OCD that their fears won't come to fruition is exactly what you shouldn't do.

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Don't reassure people with OCD -

In OCD, reassurance-seeking can be considered a type of compulsion. When you engage in a compulsion, you reinforce the idea that you need to act on that compulsion to feel better. So by reassuring, it actually feeds OCD.

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It's possible to live a normal life with OCD -

With good coping mechanisms and treatments in place, people can lead very productive and happy lives.

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It's possible to live a normal life with OCD -

Some people with OCD can be completely cured after treatment. Others may still have OCD, but they can enjoy significant relief from their symptoms.

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Listen, but don't judge -

OCD is like any other physical or mental diagnosis. You can't tell someone to just snap out of it.

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Listen, but don't judge -

If someone tells you in confidence about their OCD, don't question it; just listen.

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Remission is possible -

Healthcare providers may recommend cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps people change their thinking and how they react to stressful situations.

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Remission is possible -

Healthcare providers may also prescribe antidepressant medications or a combination of treatments.

Sources: (Verywell Mind) (Health.com) (National Institute of Mental Health)

See also: What is relationship OCD?

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