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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
The person with OCD experiences repeated (obsessive) thoughts, ideas, images and impulses. The thoughts or ideas can be disturbing, and the person is aware that they make no sense, and often tries to suppress them or get rid of them in a number of ways.
Compulsive behaviour accompanies the thoughts or ideas, usually in an attempt to get rid of the anxiety associated with the thoughts. The symptoms (either obsessions or compulsions or both) take up a large part of the person’s time, and are disturbing to her or him.
Obsessive thoughts or ideas are commonly related to a fear of dirt or contamination, hurting someone else, making inappropriate sexual advances, becoming aggressive, or being blasphemous. Extreme self doubt is also common, as is a need for symmetry in the person’s surroundings.
Compulsive behaviours include checking rituals, cleaning and washing rituals, putting things in a certain order, counting, needing to repeatedly ask or confess, needing symmetry or precision and hoarding.
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