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Obsessive-Compulsive
Disorder
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Obsessions are frequently occurring irrational
thoughts that cause great anxiety but that cannot be
controlled through reasoning. Common obsessions
include preoccupations with dirt or germs, nagging
doubts (e.g., "Did I turn off the oven?" or
"Did I lock the house?"), and a need to have
things in a very particular order. Although an individual
with an obsession realizes that the thoughts are
unreasonable and not related to real-life problems,
this knowledge is not enough to make the unwanted
thoughts go away. Instead, to get rid of the
obsessive thoughts, people with obsessive-compulsive
disorder (OCD) often engage in repetitive rituals, or
compulsions, to reduce their anxiety. Examples
of compulsions include repeated hand washing (to avoid
contamination), constant checking and rechecking to
satisfy doubts (e.g. the oven is off; the house is
locked), and following rigid rules of order (putting
on clothes in exactly the same sequence every
day). Compulsive behaviors can sometimes take up
more than an hour a day, thus becoming excessively
disruptive of normal daily routines and social
relationships.
(Back)
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Anxiety
Disorders/Phobias
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