Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Everyone worries. Some worrying is normal for everybody. However, too much worrying can be a sign of a problem. Someone who worries too much might have a mental condition called obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

In a normally functioning brain, if you get worried, you deal with your worry and then put it in the back of your mind. If you have OCD, you can't stop worrying. These worries become obsessions. To get rid of these obsessions, people with OCD develop rituals, also called compulsions.

• What are some obsessions related to OCD?
• What are some rituals people with OCD perform?
• How can OCD affect someone's life?
• How common is OCD?
• Is there treatment for OCD?

What are some obsessions related to OCD?

• Extreme fear of dirt and germs
  
• Fear of getting sick
  
• Fear of getting injured
  
• Making sure everything is straight

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What are some rituals people with OCD perform?

• Washing for extremely long periods of time or over-washing
  
• Touching certain things constantly
  
• Repeatedly counting things
  
• Arranging things until they are perfect
  
• Repeating questions

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How can OCD affect someone's life?

OCD can make completing simple tasks difficult. The rituals can take lots of time and get in the way of completing homework, spending time with friends or going to school. Someone with OCD cannot control these rituals. They feel that if the rituals are not done, something will go wrong.
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How common is OCD?

One million kids and teens in the United States have OCD. That's about one in every 200 teens. Adults can have OCD too.
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Is there treatment for OCD?

Yes. Medicines are available that break the OCD cycle in the brain. These medicines must be used in conjunction with behavior therapy. The behavior therapist could be a psychologist, psychiatrist, or other licensed therapist. With help, the symptoms of OCD go away, and the person's life becomes more normal.
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