Many people have heard the term “OCD,” but far fewer truly understand what it means. The disorder is often reduced to a casual joke surrounding neatness and perfectionism, overshadowing the harsh reality of the condition. This casual use of the term “OCD” minimizes the true severity of the disorder and creates misconceptions about what individuals with OCD really experience.
The Mayo Clinic, a top-ranked U.S. medical institution, describes OCD as “a pattern of unwanted thoughts and fears classified as ‘obsessions.’” These obsessions lead you to develop repetitive behaviors and compulsions. Ultimately, these compulsive acts are attempts to ease your overwhelming stress, yet these obsessions and compulsions disrupt many daily activities and cause immense distress. Many people wonder, “Why can’t individuals with OCD simply stop doing these compulsions?” The answer to this question is more complex than it appears: even when someone tries to ignore or suppress intrusive thoughts or urges, they keep coming back–and often return even stronger.
There are two sides to the OCD spectrum. While you can classify as both, individuals with OCD typically fall into the categories of either obsessive or compulsive. Obsessions are intrusive, unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that can trigger intense anxiety or feelings of discomfort. These obsessions can revolve around a wide range of factors, ranging from fears of contamination to doubts about safety. Moreover, in response to this distress, individuals often engage in compulsions, which are classified as “repetitive behaviors or mental rituals performed to reduce anxiety and prevent a fear outcome,” says Medical News Today. While compulsions may provide momentary relief, they ultimately strengthen the obsessions by signaling that the threat is ultimately real and must be solved. These compulsions are behaviors that you feel like you need to do over and over to try to reduce your anxiety or stop the obsessive thoughts. Together, these obsessions and compulsions create an overwhelming loop that significantly impacts daily functioning and emotional well-being, illustrating why OCD is far more complex than simple “overthinking” or quirky habits. OCD currently affects 1-2% of people in the United States, and, among adults, slightly more women than men are affected.
Here are some common signs and symptoms of OCD.
Obsessions may involve things such as,
- Fear of germs or contamination
- Fear of losing or misplacing something
- Worries about harm coming towards yourself or others
- Unwanted forbidden thoughts involving sex or religion
- Aggressive thoughts towards yourself or others
- Needing things lined up exactly or arranged in a particular, precise way
Compulsions may involve things such as,
- Excessive cleaning and/or handwashing
- Repeatedly checking on things, such as whether the door is locked or the oven is off
- Compulsive counting
- Ordering and arranging things in a particular, precise way
While researchers have made some headway, the exact cause of OCD still remains unknown. The International OCD Foundation explains that their best answer to this question is that “there is no single cause” and there are many different internal and external factors that can have an effect on OCD development. Numerous factors such as genetics, brain biology and chemistry, and environmental components can play a big role in OCD onset and progression. However, throughout ongoing research, professionals have been able to determine that there are common anatomical differences in brain structure between individuals with OCD and those without: “Brain-imaging studies have revealed differences in brain structure and function among people with OCD, particularly in circuits that regulate decision-making, emotion, and behavior” (International OCD Foundation). Research has shown that parts of the brain affected by OCD include the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), the thalamus and the basal ganglia. These parts of the brain are responsible for certain motor functions: The OFC is involved in shaping our thoughts, memories, emotions and intuition, while the ACC helps us detect or predict errors and plays a role in attention, motivation, memory and emotion. Overactivity in these sections of the brain have been found in people with OCD. However, these differences are small and not consistently observed, so whether or not they are definitely correlated with OCD is uncertain. OCD onset can occur during any stage of life, but most commonly begins during childhood or near the onset of puberty. Boys typically develop OCD at a younger age than girls.
Here are some common risk factors that are frequently related to OCD.
- Family history. People with a first-degree relative (such as parent, sibling, or child) who has OCD are at higher risk. This is especially true if the relative developed OCD during their childhood.
- Brain structure and functioning. Studies show that people with OCD have differences in certain parts of the brain.
- Childhood trauma. Some studies have found a link between trauma in childhood and OCD.
Unfortunately, living with OCD can feel overwhelming, but everyday individuals across the globe prove that it is possible to rise above its challenges and beat this condition! Countless individuals, including many well-known celebrities and public figures, have publicly shared their experiences with OCD, proving that success, happiness, and fulfillment are entirely possible while living with this condition. American actor and producer Leonardo DiCaprio is one of the many individuals across the globe who live life alongside OCD. While he is primarily renowned for his exceptional acting career and numerous film awards, DiCaprio also serves as a United Nations Messenger of Peace for climate change. OCD does not define a person’s potential or limit their ability to achieve greatness, and it’s important to hold on to that sentiment.
OCD is often an invisible disorder and many of the struggles people face are hidden beneath the surface. Someone may appear “fine” on the outside while silently battling overwhelming thoughts and compulsions throughout their daily life. It’s easy for outsiders to misunderstand or underestimate the true reality of this condition, and this undermines the importance of treating others with empathy rather than judgement, as you never know what internal battles someone may be facing.
