You have to repeat a simple task over and over again. Your mind tells you that the rituals you do, no matter how irrational, will keep you and others safe.
You tell yourself, just one more time, and the anxiety will go away. The belief that you should be able to control your thoughts consumes you. The shame you feel for not being able to control them confirms the belief that there is something wrong with you.
On the one hand, there is a drive for reassurance while on the other, the intrusive thoughts feel too shameful to speak. OCD is a mental health disorder where an individual has persistent obsessions and compulsions.
These obsessions are thoughts, urges, or impulses that are disturbing, intrusive, and unwanted. People with OCD attempt to ignore, or suppress these obsessions with a thought or action which we call a compulsion.
Compulsions are repetitive behaviors that a person feels like they have to do in response to the obsession. The compulsions are directly aimed at reducing the anxiety or distress of the obsession but are obsessive and are not logical or realistic. Generally, obsessive thoughts come in themes. Specific examples of obsessions:. Fear of blurting out a swear word or something inappropriate in public. There are many common OCD compulsions. Common ideas include hand washing, checking, repeating, and mental compulsions.
