What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?

You might hear people call themselves and behaviors “OCD” all the time. But what are really the core symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?

OCD is characterized by two main features: obsessions and compulsions. Their interaction creates a distressing cycle that can significantly impact daily life. While it can overlap with other anxiety disorders, eating disorders and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), it is a distinct disorder.

Obsessions

Obsessions are unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images, or urges that repeatedly enter your mind—often uncomfortable, scary, embarrassing, or nonsensical. Though some obsessions, like fear of contamination, occur more frequently, each person’s experience is unique.

Compulsions

Compulsions (or rituals) are repetitive mental or physical actions you feel compelled to perform in response to obsessions. These behaviors aim to reduce anxiety or prevent feared outcomes, but often feel excessive or irrational—even if they make sense to you.

You may feel intense anxiety, frustration, or discomfort until you complete these rituals. While compulsions can offer momentary relief, they paradoxically reinforce the obsession cycle—making distress more persistent.

It's not just the presence of obsessions and compulsions—but their frequency, intensity, and impact—that signals OCD.

When these patterns:

• Consume hours daily

• Interfere with school, work, or relationships

• Cause significant distress

…that indicates OCD may be present.

Common OCD Obsessions and Rituals

While individual experiences vary, many obsessions and compulsions fall into recognizable types of OCD:

• Contamination OCD (fear of germs or dirt)

• Harm OCD (worry about accidentally hurting someone)

• “Not just right” or perfectionism (things must feel or look exact)

• Checking (ensuring doors are locked or appliances are off)

• Religious OCD and Scrupulosity (fear of sins, blasphemy)

• Taboo thoughts (intrusive sexual, aggressive, or blasphemous ideas)

• Hoarding (saving items for fear you might need it)

• Sexual obsessions and Sexual Orientation OCD (unwanted thoughts about sexual behaviors or images, or repeated doubts about one’s sexual orientation or gender identity)

• Relationship OCD (repeated worries about loving one’s partner enough or whether you can trust your partner)

• “Pure O” OCD (mostly internal rituals aimed at seeking certainty, preventing negative outcomes, or reassurances).

The OCD Cycle

1. Obsession: An intrusive thought emerges (e.g., “What if I didn’t turn off the stove?”)

2. Anxiety: The thought triggers intense apprehension

3. Compulsion: You engage in a ritual (e.g., checking the stove multiple times)

4. Temporary Relief: Anxiety fades—briefly

5. Repetition: The cycle restarts as the obsession returns

Breaking this cycle is key to reducing OCD’s hold.

Getting pulled into the endless OCD cycle

In Summary

• Obsessions = distressing, intrusive thoughts or urges

• Compulsions = repetitive actions aimed at alleviating anxiety

• OCD = when this cycle becomes time-consuming, distressing, and disruptive

• Themes are common—but your fears and rituals are uniquely yours

Understanding this framework can empower people with OCD to seek effective treatment approaches—such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and ERP (Exposure & Response Prevention)—that target both obsessions and compulsions.