What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?
Obsessions are thoughts, impulses and/or images that repeatedly enter a person's mind in an unintended manner and cause unrest in the person. Repetitive behaviors and/or mental actions which result from dealing with anxiety and distress caused by obsessions are often noted. For example, washing hands frequently, checking the stove or repeating a sentence in the mind. These behaviors are called compulsions.
Compulsions take the time of the person and reinforce anxiety in the long term rather than reducing it. Moreover, it is either irrelevant to the feared situation or relatively exaggerated. Although such repetitive behaviors sound crazy to the person, s/he cannot stop himself/herself from doing them. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a disorder characterized by these recurrent thoughts and behaviors.
Types of Obsessive Compulsive Disorders
According to the content, obsessions are divided into various subtypes. However, often more than one type of obsessions coexist, and in the course of time, obsessions of different sub-species may also develop.
- Cleaning addiction: The most common sub-type that is considered as 'cleaning addiction' in society is obsession and compulsions related to cleaning. Of course, our contact with dirt and germs is sometimes unavoidable; none of us likes dirt and germs, and we want to stay clean. But most of us do not stay in the shower for 8 hours, do not wipe a place we have already wiped again and again, and do not worry too much saying 'what if I got dirty, what if contracted germs'. Individuals with this disorder have quantitatively exaggerated anxiety and cleaning behaviors. In some individuals, the level of pathology may be so intense that lesions may develop on their skin or they cannot go to work because of repetitive and long periods of washing/bathing rituals. Apart from this, the person tries to stay away from the anxiety situation by avoidance behaviors. For example, they may not touch an object they think is filthy or they cannot even leave the house. Contamination obsessions may be related to transmitting dirt and microbes to others.
- The state of not being able to be sure: The other type that is most common is evident in a state of not being able to be sure. The person is constantly in thoughts that start with ‘what if I didn't’ and 'I wonder'. Like, "What if I didn't lock the door, I wonder if I have run over someone?". This state of doubt, which is reflected in a wide range of areas, impairs the quality of life and the person also exhibits constant controlling behaviors or avoidances to deal with this concern. For example, they may check a road they have driven through by going back and back again or they may give up driving.
- Anxiety of causing harm: Another type is associated with causing harm. This subtype is characterized by intense anxiety that one has caused harm/will cause harm to others. And there are often compulsions to prevent this. For example; a parent with repetitive and involuntary thoughts as "what if I cause harm to my child" may hide all penetrating-cutting tools in the house or show avoidance behavior by not coming too close to the child.
- Religious obsessions: Another common type of disorder is religious obsessions, which are characterized by repetitive thoughts/images that induce religious anxiety such as committing a sin, being punished.