Are obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours interfering with your daily life?
It’s normal, on occasion, to go back and double-check that the door is locked, worry about germs, or have occasional unpleasant reoccurring thoughts. However, if you suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours can become so consuming that they interfere with your daily life. OCD is an anxiety disorder characterized by uncontrollable, unwanted thoughts, and ritualized repetitive behaviours you feel compelled to perform. If you have OCD, you probably recognize that your obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors are irrational—but even so, you feel unable to resist them and break free. Like a needle getting stuck on an old record, OCD causes the brain to get stuck on a particular thought or urge. For example, you may check the stove 21 times to make sure it’s really turned off or wash your hands until they’re scrubbed raw for fear of germs. While you don’t derive any sense of pleasure from performing these repetitive b...