
CompulsionsĬompulsions are defined in the DSM-5 by (1) and (2): Emotional and physical discomfort can result due to fear, anxiety or guilt. Individuals may avoid or be so overwhelmed by obsessions that they are unable to perform normal tasks and responsibilities. Obsessions in OCD are debilitating, causing people to struggle with everyday living.

Although in more serious circumstances, such as fearing a loved one’s health or safety, consuming thoughts wouldn’t be enjoyable, but in all cases, the individual is able to continue with daily life. For instance, someone can take pleasure in being “obsessed” with a new movie. The term used in that way, however, means the task described can be enjoyable for people and it doesn’t undermine daily living. In common language, “obsessing” or “being obsessed” is often used with the connotation of being preoccupied, according to the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF). Another key to understanding obsessions in the context of OCD is that they are not pleasurable. Even after attempting to suppress certain thoughts, urges or images, they return and are often accompanied by fear and powerlessness. In OCD, obsessions are not easily controlled.
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Either obsessions, compulsions or both must be present to receive a diagnosis of OCD, according to the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). There are two types of OCD symptoms: obsessions and compulsions.
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It’s important to become familiar with the types of OCD symptoms individuals can have and how to help them receive the proper support. Overcoming the misconceptions that people have about OCD is possible through education and awareness. I suffered in silence for years and years because all I knew about OCD was that people wash their hands too much and always check to make sure the stove is off.” –Alison Dotson, author of “Being Me with OCD” “I started obsessing when I was a child, and I wasn’t diagnosed with OCD until I was two months shy of my 27th birthday. Unfortunately, those trends lead to mental health stigma about that impact whether people seek help. Trivializing OCD through superficial references undermines the seriousness of the disorder. The types of OCD symptoms people encounter can, as author Alison Dotson told The Atlantic, consume someone with fear and make them feel like they can’t control their own thoughts and emotions. It’s not an eccentric or positive personality trait.

OCD, however, is not a preoccupation with being perfect. Even retailers have joined in, including Target with its “Obsessive Christmas Disorder” sweater. The phrase “I’m so OCD” has become a popular joke people say after organizing, cleaning or any task involving excessive attention to detail. Making light of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is common. House Blog Behavioral and Health Services Recognizing Different Types of OCD Symptoms
