Symptoms

Many people with OCD know that their thoughts and habits don’t make sense. They don’t do them because they enjoy them, but because they can’t quit. And if they do stop, they feel so bad that they start again.

Obsessions and compulsions can involve many different things, like a need for order or cleanness, hoarding, and intrusive thoughts about sex, religion, violence, and body parts.

Obsessive thoughts can include:

• Fear of germs or getting dirty
• Worries about getting hurt or others being hurt
• Need for things to be placed in an exact order
• Belief that certain numbers or colors are “good” or “bad”
• Constant awareness of blinking, breathing, or other body sensations
• Unfounded suspicion that a partner is unfaithful

Compulsive habits can include:

• Washing hands many times in a row
• Doing tasks in a specific order every time, or a certain “good” number of times
• Repetitive checking on a locked door, light switch, and other things
• Need to count things, like steps or bottles
• Putting items in an exact order, like cans with labels facing front
• Fear of touching doorknobs, using public toilets, or shaking hands

Causes

Doctors aren’t sure why some people have OCD. Certain areas in the brain may not look normal in people with OCD, but more research is needed. OCD is slightly more common in women than in men. Symptoms often appear in teens or young adults. Stress can make symptoms worse.

There may be a gene or genes linked to OCD, but this is still unknown.

You are more likely to get the disorder if you have: