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You may be familiar with OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) thanks to Jack Nicholson's portrayal of Melvin Udall in As Good As It Gets--a performance of abrasive hand-washing and repetitive re-checking of locks so moving it won him an Academy Award. Though noteworthy, Nicholson's gusto for his character doesn't exactly provide all the info about OCD...
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder differs from other anxiety disorders in that it's the individual's actual thoughts and actions that drive anxious feelings rather than an outside stimulus. People with OCD suffer both from intrusive, recurring thoughts that can't be shut off or out (otherwise called obsessions) as well as the inability to control or refrain from ritualistic routines and behaviors (also called compulsions). And it can strike anyone of any age at (you guessed it!) any time.
Some common obsessions include:
Irrational worry about dirt, germs and contamination. (This does not apply to the locker room, where worry is completely normal.)
Nagging feelings that something bad will happen if things aren't in their right place, position or order.
Fear that thoughts and images (believed to be negative) will cause a loved one to be harmed.
Preoccupations with throwing away something of little or no value, like say a used piece of floss or notes from last year's bio class.
Worry about injuring another person, either purposefully or accidentally.
Some common compulsions are:
Constant cleaning or bathing, including washing one's hands repeatedly, often for hours at a time. (Again, this behavior is probably normal after gym class.)
Checking and re-checking that things are in their place, position, or order, such as good ole Melvin checking that the deadbolt is locked twenty times.
Repeating a name, phrase or tune uncontrollably or for a certain number of times.
An excessively slow, methodical approach to daily tasks or routines.
Hoarding useless items like bottle caps, friendship bracelets or old pictures of Jake Gyllenhaal.
As you can imagine, the constant onslaught of worries and the need to repeat anything or everything can take a toll on your personal life. In most cases, people with OCD are well aware of their irrational actions. They simply can't help it.
