OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) - Healthline

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic mental health condition that involves obsessions, compulsions, or both. In the United States, around 2 to 3 ... HealthlineHealthConditionsDiscoverPlanConnectShopSubscribeEverythingYouNeedtoKnowAboutObsessive-CompulsiveDisorderMedicallyreviewedbyMatthewBoland,PhD—WrittenbyDanaRobinsonandCrystalRaypole—UpdatedonDecember22,2021SymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentTypesInchildrenOCPDvsOCDLivingwithOCDWhatisOCD?Obsessive-compulsivedisorder(OCD)isachronicmentalhealthconditionthatinvolvesobsessions,compulsions,orboth.IntheUnitedStates,around2to3percentofpeoplehavethiscondition,accordingtotheAmericanPsychiatricAssociation.PeoplelivingwithOCDtypicallyexperienceobsessions,orrepetitiveunwantedthoughtsthatpromptanextremeurgetorepeataspecificbehavior.Theythenactoutthaturge,orcompulsion,tohelprelievetheobsessivethought.Plentyofpeopledouble-checktomakesurethey’velockedthefrontdoororturnedoffthestove.It’salsoverycommontohaveasuperstitionortwo,likeknockingonwoodorwearingyourteam’sjerseywhentheyplay.Thesehabitsmighthelpyoufeelmoresecure,buttheydon’tautomaticallysuggestOCD.ForpeoplelivingwithOCD,theseritualsaren’tamatterofpersonalchoice.Rather,theycomplicateanddisrupteverydaylife.ManypeoplewithOCDrecognizethethoughtsandbeliefsfuelingtheircompulsionsasillogical,oratleasthighlyunlikely.Still,theyactonthemto:relievethedistresscausedbyintrusiveobsessivethoughtspreventpersistentfearsfrombecomingrealityLanguagemattersYoumighthearsomeonesay,“I’msoOCD,”becausetheyliketheitemsontheirdesktostayarrangedinacertainwayorprefertowashandputawaythedishesimmediatelyaftereverymeal.ButOCDismuchmorethanapersonalpreferenceforcleanlinessororder.ThesymptomsofOCDtakeupasignificantpartofsomeone’sdayanddisrupttheirregularactivities.Theyalsocausedistress—peoplewithOCDoftenknowthatobsessionsandcompulsionsaren’tgroundedinreality,buttheystillfeelcompelledtoactonthem.Using“OCD”casuallytodescribehabitsorbehaviorsyouchoosetodocanminimizetheseriousnessofOCD,nottomentionthedistressexperiencedbypeoplelivingwiththecondition.SymptomsOCDinvolvestwomaintypesofsymptoms:obsessionsandcompulsions.ManypeoplelivingwithOCDexperiencebothobsessionsandcompulsions,butsomepeopleonlyexperienceoneortheother.Thesesymptomsaren’tjustfleetingorshort-lived.Evenmildersymptomscantakeupatleastanhoureachdayandsignificantlyaffectyourday-to-dayactivities.Obsessionsorcompulsionsmightaffectyourabilitytopayattentionatschoolorcompletetasksatwork.Theycouldevenkeepyoufromgoingtoschoolorwork,oranywhereelse.Youmightrealizetheobsessivethoughtsaren’ttrue,orknowthecompulsivebehaviorswon’tactuallydoanythingtopreventthem.Yettheyoftenfeeluncontrollable,allthesame.ObsessionsThecontentofobsessivethoughtscanvarywidely,butafewcommonthemesinclude:worriesaboutgerms,dirt,orillnessfearsofharmingyourselforsomeoneelsefearsofsayingsomethingoffensiveorobsceneaneedtohaveyourpossessionsaligned,orderly,orsymmetricalexplicitsexualorviolentthoughtsworriesaboutthrowingthingsawayquestioningyoursexualdesiresororientationworriesaboutthehealthandsafetyofyourselforyourlovedonesintrusiveimages,words,orsoundsTheseunwantedandintrusivethoughtskeepcomingback,nomatterhowhardyoutrytoignoreorsuppressthem.Theirverypersistencecanleadtoanevenstrongerconvictionthattheymightbetrue,ormightcometrue,ifyoudon’ttakestepstopreventthem.CompulsionsExamplesofcompulsivebehaviorsinOCDinclude:washingyourhands,objects,orbodyorganizingoraligningobjectsinaspecificwaycountingorrepeatingspecificphrasestouchingsomethingasetnumberoftimesseekingreassurancefromotherscollectingcertainobjectsorbuyingseveralofthesameitemhidingobjectsyoucouldusetohurtyourselforsomeoneelsementallygoingoveryouractionstomakesureyouhaven’tharmedanyoneelseYoucanthinkofcompulsionsasaresponsetoobsessions.Onceanobsessionsurfaces,youmightfeelcompelledtotakeactioninordertorelievetheanxietyanddistressitcausesortokeepthatobsessivethoughtfromcomingtrue.Youmightfeeltheneedtorepeattheseactionsaspecificnumberoftimes,oruntilthingsseem“justright.”Ifyoumakeamistakeduringtheritual,youmightfeelthatitwon’tworkunlessyoustartfromthebeginningandfinishitperfectly.Exploreobsessionsandcompulsionsinmoredepth.WhatcausesOCD?Expertsdon’tknowexactlywhatcausesOCD,butafamilyhistoryoftheconditionmayplayalargepart.IfyouhaveaclosefamilymemberwithOCD,youhaveahigherchanceofalsohavingthecondition.Irregulardevelopmentandimpairmentincertainareasofthebrainhavealsobeenlinkedtothecondition,accordingtotheNationalInstituteofMentalHealth.SomeevidencesuggestsOCDmayrelate,inpart,tohowyourbrainrespondstoserotonin.Serotoninisaneurotransmitterthathelpsregulatemoodandsleep,andhasmanyotherimportantfunctionsthroughoutyourbody.RiskfactorsforOCDIfyou’regeneticallymorelikelytodevelopOCD,otherfactorscanalsoincreaseyourchancesofdevelopingthecondition.Theseinclude:Stressortrauma.Significantstressathome,school,work,orinpersonalrelationshipscanraiseyourchancesofdevelopingOCDorworsenexistingsymptoms.Personality.Certainpersonalitytraits,includingdifficultyhandlinguncertainty,heightenedfeelingsofresponsibility,orperfectionism,mayfactorintoOCD.However,there’ssomedebateoverwhethertheseareactuallyfixedtraitsormoreflexiblelearnedresponsesthatcanchange.Abuseinchildhood.Childrenwhoexperienceabuseorothertraumaticchildhoodexperiences,likebullyingorsevereneglect,haveahigherchanceofdevelopingthecondition.Childhoodacuteneuropsychiatricsymptoms(CANS).Forsomechildren,OCDbeginssuddenlyafteraninfection.Afterastreptococcalinfection,thissyndromeisknownasPANDAS,whichstandsforpediatricautoimmuneneuropsychiatricdisordersassociatedwithstreptococcus.Butotherinfectionsordiseasescanalsocausesymptoms.Traumaticbraininjury.Accordingtoa2021study,symptomsofOCDmayappearforthefirsttimefollowingaheadinjury.Keepinmind,though,thatit’spossibletohaveafamilyhistoryofOCD,alongwithotherriskfactors,andstillneverdeveloptheconditionyourself.What’smore,peoplewithoutanyknownriskfactorscanstillhaveOCD.OCDoftenoccurswithothermentalhealthconditions,including:attentiondeficithyperactivitydisorder(ADHD)TourettesyndromemajordepressivedisordersocialanxietydisordereatingdisordersInfact,about90percentofpeoplelivingwithOCDhaveanothermentalhealthcondition,withanxietyconditionsbeingthemostcommon.Thatsaid,havingoneoftheseconditionsdoesn’tautomaticallymeanyou’remorelikelytohaveOCD.OCDdiagnosisIfyouexperienceobsessionsorcompulsions,atrainedmentalhealthprofessionalcanhelpyougetadiagnosisandexplorethebesttreatmentoptions.SymptomsofOCDappearfirstinchildhoodforabouthalfofthepeoplelivingwiththecondition.Becausesymptomsoftenbegingradually,theymaynotbeverynoticeablerightaway.Asamatteroffact,manypeoplelivewiththeconditionforyearsbeforeseekinghelp.TalkingaboutOCDsymptomscanfeeldifficult,especiallyifyou’vealreadytriedandbeenbrushedoff.Maybeyousharedanobsessivethoughtwithaparent.Theylaughed,huggedyou,andsaid,“Don’tworry,that’snotgoingtohappen.”Buttheirlovingdismissaldidnothingtoeasethethought.Orperhapsyoutriedexplainingtoaco-workerwhofrequentlyborrowedofficesuppliesthatyouhavetokeeptheitemsonyourdeskalignedinacertainway.Whentheypickedupastaplertoborrowitandsetitbackinthewrongplace,youfeltintenselyuncomfortableuntilyouputitwhereitbelonged.Later,youheardtheminthehallway,talkingtosomeoneelseabouthow“strange”youwere.Amentalhealthprofessionalwon’tlaughorjudgeyou—they’lllistentoyoursymptomswithcompassionandhelpyoubegintoaddressthem.They’llstartbyaskingquestionsaboutobsessionsorcompulsionsyouexperience,including:howmuchtimetheytakeupeachdaywhatyoudototryandignoreorsuppressthemwhethertheOCD-relatedbeliefsfeeltruetoyouwhateffectsobsessionsandcompulsionshaveonyourrelationshipsanddailylifeThey’llalsoaskaboutmedicationsyou’retakingandanyothermentalhealthormedicalsymptomsyouexperiencetohelpruleoutmedicationsideeffectsorotherconditions.OthermentalhealthconditionscaninvolvesymptomsthatresembleOCD:Bodydysmorphicdisordercaninvolvefixatedthoughtsorrepetitivebehaviorsthatrelatetoyourphysicalappearance.Trichotillomaniainvolvespersistenturgestopullyourownhairout.Depressioncaninvolveloopingunwantedthoughts,butthesethoughtsgenerallydon’tleadtocompulsivebehaviors.Hoardingdisorderinvolvescollectinganexcessofunneededobjectsandhavingdifficultythrowingthingsaway,butthesepossessionsdon’ttriggerdistress.PeoplewithOCDmightonlycollectorsaveitemsduetoacompulsiontocompleteaset,orbecausetheybelievenotsavingthoseitemsmightleadtoharm.Generalizedanxietydisorderalsoinvolvesfrequentandpersistentworries.Theseconcernsoftenrelatetoeverydaylife,though.Whiletheymightleadyoutoavoidcertainpeopleorsituations,theygenerallydon’tleadtocompulsiveactions.Tics,orsudden,repeatedmovements,canhappenwithOCD.It’snotuncommonforpeoplewithOCDtoalsohaveaticdisorder,suchasTourettesyndrome.ButyoucanalsohaveaticdisorderwithouthavingOCD.AmentalhealthprofessionalwillusealltheinformationtheygathertodeterminewhetherOCDisthemostaccuratediagnosisandexploreotherdiagnoses,ifneeded.TreatmentConnectingwithatherapistwhohasexperiencetreatingOCDisagoodfirststeptowardexploringhelpfultreatmentoptions.Usually,treatmentforOCDwillincludebothpsychotherapyandmedication.MedicationAfewdifferentpsychotropicmedicationscanhelpreduceOCDsymptoms.Apsychiatristorotherprescribingclinicianmightprescribe:selectiveserotoninreuptakeinhibitors(SSRIs),suchasfluoxetine(Prozac)orsertraline(Zoloft)thetricyclicantidepressantclomipramine(Anafranil),thoughthismedicationgenerallywon’tbeprescribedasafirst-linetreatmentantipsychoticslikearipiprazole(Abilify)orrisperidone(Risperdal),whichcanenhancetheeffectsofSSRIsmemantine(Namenda),anNMDAreceptorantagonist,whichcanalsoenhancetheeffectsofSSRIsItcansometimestake8to12weeksbeforeSSRIstakeeffect,sokeeptakingyourmedicationasdirectedevenifyoudon’tnoticeimprovementimmediately.Somesideeffectsarepossible,soyou’llalwayswanttoletyourcareteamknowaboutanyunwantedsymptomsyouexperiencewhiletakingmedication.Ifthesesideeffectsoutweighthemedication’sbenefits,yourpsychiatristmayrecommendanothertreatmentapproach.TherapyMentalhealthprofessionalstypicallyrecommendtherapyaspartofacombinedapproachtotreatment.Medicationcanoftenhelprelievesymptoms,butbyworkingwithatherapist,youcanalsolearn:toolstomanageunwantedthoughtsandchangeunhelpfulpatternsofbehaviorstrategiestoimproverelaxationandcopewithemotionaldistressTherapyapproachesrecommendedforOCDinclude:Cognitivebehavioraltherapy(CBT).CBTcanhelpyoulearntoidentifyandreframepatternsofunwantedornegativethoughtsandbehaviors.Exposureandresponseprevention(ERP).ThisisatypeofCBTthatinvolvesgradualexposuretofearedsituations,ortheconcernsattherootofobsessionsorcompulsions.ThegoalofERPistolearntomanagethedistressobsessionscausewithoutengagingincompulsivebehaviors.Mindfulness-basedcognitivetherapy.Thisinvolveslearningmindfulnessskillstocopewithdistresstriggeredbyobsessivethoughts.Notsurehowtostartyoursearchforatherapist?Ourguidecanhelp.Lookingforwaystosupportyourmentalhealthandwell-being?TryHealthline’sFindCaretooltoconnectwithmentalhealthprofessionalsnearbyorvirtuallysoyoucangetthecareyouneed.OtherapproachesSomelimitedevidencealsosupportsbrainstimulationforOCDsymptoms.Deepbrainstimulation.Thisinvolvesdeliveringelectricalpulses,directlyintoareasofthebrainassociatedwithOCD,throughathinelectrode.Thisprocedurerequiressurgery,soyourcareteamwilllikelyonlyrecommenditforveryseveresymptomsthatdon’timprovewithothertreatments.Transcranialmagneticstimulation(TMS).TMSinvolvesmagneticpulses,deliveredtoyourbrainviamagneticcoil.ExpertsbelievethemagneticpulseshelpeaseOCDsymptomsbystimulatingassociatedareasofthebrain.Thisnoninvasiveproceduredoesn’trequiresurgeryandisoftenusedalongwithmedicationandtherapy.LearnmoreabouttreatmentforOCD.TypesofOCDThere’snoformalclassificationofdifferenttypesofOCD,butexpertscommonlyseparatesymptomsintoseveralsubtypes:contaminationandcleaningfearofharmandcheckingsymmetry,perfectionism,andorderingintrusivesexual,violent,orothertaboothoughtscollectingorhoardingYoursymptomscouldmainlyalignwithoneofthesesubtypes,orfallintomultiplecategories.Thefactthatsymptomsoftendon’tfitneatlyintoonecategorymayhelpexplainwhythesesubtypesremainunofficial.Thesearen’ttheonlysuggestedsubtypesofOCD,either.Otherunofficial“types”ofOCDinclude:Scrupulosity,orreligiousOCD,involvesobsessionsandcompulsionscenteredaroundreligiousbeliefs.Ifyouhaveathoughtyouconsiderblasphemous,youmightfeelcompelledtoprayacertainnumberoftimes,counttoacertainnumber,ortouchseveralobjectsinordertocancelitout.RelationshipOCDinvolvesfrequentdoubts,questions,andintrusivethoughtsaboutyourrelationship.PureO(obsession)involvessexual,religious,orviolentintrusivethoughtsandobsessionsbutnoapparentcompulsions.PureOmightstillinvolvecompulsions—theyjustmighttakeplaceasmentalritualsratherthanphysicalactions.OCDinchildrenAgain,aroundhalfofpeoplewithOCDfirstnoticedsymptomsduringchildhood.ChildrenmaynotalwaysshowsymptomsofOCDinthesamewaysasadults.Forexample:Theymaynotrealizetheirobsessionsorcompulsionsareexcessive.Theymightbelieveeveryonehassimilarthoughtsandurges.Obsessionsmayseemlessobvious.Certainthoughtpatterns,suchasmagicalthinkingorfearsofbadthingshappeningtolovedones,mayalsoseemlikeatypicalpartofchilddevelopment.Ticstendtodevelopmoreoftenwithchildhood-onsetOCD,accordingtoa2014study.Theymorecommonlyhavesymptomsfrommultiplecategories.Treatmentforchildrengenerallyinvolvestherapy,medication,orboth,asitdoesforadults.IfyoubelieveyourchildcouldhaveOCD,reachingouttoatherapistwhospecializesinworkingwithchildrenisagoodnextstep.OCPDvsOCDDespitethesimilarityintheirnames,obsessive-compulsivedisorderandobsessive-compulsivepersonalitydisorder(OCPD)arecompletelydifferentconditions.OCPDischaracterizedbyanextremeneedfororderliness,perfection,andcontrol,includingwithinrelationships.Itdoesn’tinvolveobsessionsorcompulsions.KeysymptomsofOCPDinclude:preoccupationwithdetails,order,rules,andschedulesperfectionismthatgetsinthewayofcompletingtasksorassignmentsspendingsomuchtimeonworkthatnotimeremainsforpersonalinterestsorrelationshipsaninflexibleoroverlyconscientiousattitudetowardethicalormoralconcernsextremedifficultydiscardingobjectstroubledelegatingresponsibilityorworkingwithothersatendencytoavoidspendingmoneywheneverpossiblearigidorstubbornattitudePersonalitydisorderslikeOCPDinvolvefixed,persistenttraitsthatcandisruptrelationshipsandeverydaylife.Peoplelivingwithpersonalitydisordersoftendon’trecognizethesetraitsasproblematic,butsimplyacceptthemaspartoftheirpersonality.Still,comparedtopeoplelivingwithotherpersonalitydisorders,thosewithOCPDaremorelikelytoseektreatment.Comparedtootherpersonalitydisorders,OCPDcanoftenbetreatedmoreeffectively.PeoplewithOCD,ontheotherhand,maybemorelikelytoseekhelpbecausetheirsymptomsdocausedistress.It’spossible,ofcourse,tohavebothconditions,butamentalhealthprofessionalwilldiagnosethemseparately.OCPDmayalsoinvolvedifferentapproachestotreatment,includingpsychodynamictherapy.LearnmoreaboutOCPDsymptomsandtreatments.LivingwithOCDWhilethere’snocureforOCD,professionaltreatmentandarangeofcopingstrategiescanhelpyoumanageyoursymptomsandminimize,oreveneliminate,theirimpactonyourday-to-daylife.GettinghelpfromatherapistwhohasexperiencetreatingOCDcangoalongwaytowardeasingfeelingsofstressandimprovingyourqualityoflifeoverall.Withprofessionalsupport,it’softenpossibletolearnnewstrategiestomanageOCDsymptomsandchallengepatternsofunwantedthoughts.Therapistscanalsoofferguidancewithotherhelpfulcopingstrategies,including:breathingexercisesmeditationandmindfulnesstechniquescreatingaself-careroutineopeninguptolovedonesItmightfeeldifficulttotalkaboutOCDwiththepeopleinyourlife,andnothingsaysyouhavetoshareyourdiagnosisuntilyoufeelreadytodoso.Thatsaid,isolatingyourselfusuallyonlymakesmattersworse.Reachingouttofamily,friends,andotherlovedonescanmakeiteasiertogetemotionalsupport,plusanyothertypeofsupportyoumightneed—whichcan,inturn,leadtoimprovedwell-beingoverall.JoininganOCDsupportgroupcanbeanothergreatwaytoconnectwithpeoplewhounderstandwhatyou’reexperiencing.LastmedicallyreviewedonDecember22,202114sourcescollapsedHealthlinehasstrictsourcingguidelinesandreliesonpeer-reviewedstudies,academicresearchinstitutions,andmedicalassociations.Weavoidusingtertiaryreferences.Youcanlearnmoreabouthowweensureourcontentisaccurateandcurrentbyreadingoureditorialpolicy.AmericanPsychiatricAssociation.(2013).Diagnosticandstatisticalmanualonmentaldisorders (5thed.).Arlington,VA:AmericanPsychiatricAssociation.Brainstimulationtherapies.(2016).nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/brain-stimulation-therapies/brain-stimulation-therapiesBrockH,etal.(2021).Obsessive-compulsivedisorder.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK553162ConeleaCA,etal.(2014).Tic-relatedobsessive-compulsivedisorder(OCD):PhenomenologyandtreatmentoutcomeinthePediatricOCDTreatmentStudyII.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4254546DoronG,etal.(2013).Relationshipobsessivecompulsivedisorder(ROCD):Aconceptualframework.rocd.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Relationship-obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ROCD.pdfHirschtrittME,etal.(2017).Obsessive-compulsivedisorder: Advancesindiagnosisandtreatment.jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2614194IonL.(2021).Theconnectionbetweenobsessivecompulsivedisorderandtraumaticbraininjuryinpaediatricandyoungpatients,therapeuticguidelinesandnewtherapeuticapproaches.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation.aspx?paperid=107822Obsessive-compulsivedisorder.(2019).nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/index.shtmlObsessive-compulsivedisorderinchildren.(2021).cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/ocd.htmlThambyA,etal.(2019).Theroleofpersonalitydisordersinobsessive-compulsivedisorder.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6343421ThorntonP.(2019).Demystifyingmentalcompulsionsand"pure-O."adaa.org/learn-from-us/from-the-experts/blog-posts/consumer/demystifying-mental-compulsions-and-pure-oUnderstandingobsessive-compulsiveandrelateddisorders.(n.d.).med.stanford.edu/ocd/about/understanding.htmlWhatisobsessive-compulsivedisorder?(2020).psychiatry.org/patients-families/ocd/what-is-obsessive-compulsive-disorderZibordiF,etal.(2018).CANS:Childhoodacuteneuropsychiatricsyndromes.pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29398245FEEDBACK:MedicallyreviewedbyMatthewBoland,PhD—WrittenbyDanaRobinsonandCrystalRaypole—UpdatedonDecember22,2021ReadthisnextAreThereTypesofOCD?MedicallyreviewedbyTimothyJ.Legg,PhD,PsyDAretheredifferenttypesofOCD?WhilesymptomsofOCDmaybegroupedbasedonsimilarityordimension,adiagnosisofOCDisn'tgenerallydividedby…READMOREUnderstandingtheImpactofSevereObsessive-CompulsiveDisorder(OCD)MedicallyreviewedbyTimothyJ.Legg,PhD,PsyDObsessive-compulsivedisorder(OCD)isadebilitatingmentalhealthconditionthatcanimpactaperson'srelationships,work,andhappiness.We…READMOREUnderstandingtheDifferenceBetweenObsessionsandCompulsionsMedicallyreviewedbyTimothyJ.Legg,PhD,PsyDObsessionsandcompulsionsarethetwomainaspectsofOCD,butwhatexactlyisthedifferencebetweenthem?Getexamplesofeachandseehowthey…READMOREIntrusiveThoughts:WhyWeHaveThemandHowtoStopThemIntrusivethoughtscanbeunexpectedandupsetting.Learnwhywehaveintrusivethoughts,whentheymaybecomeaproblem,andhowtomanagethem.READMORE10TipstoHelpYouStopRuminatingMedicallyreviewedbyTimothyJ.Legg,PhD,PsyDTheprocessofcontinuouslythinkingaboutthesamethoughtsiscalledrumination.Ahabitofruminationcanbedangeroustoyourmentalhealth,asit…READMOREObsessive-CompulsiveDisorderMayBeFueledbya‘DistrustofthePast’ResearcherssaydoubtsaboutpastexperiencesmaypropelpeoplewithOCDtorepeattheirbehavior.READMORECanYouHaveBipolarDisorderandOCD?MedicallyreviewedbyTimothyJ.Legg,PhD,PsyDBipolardisordersharessomesimilaritieswithOCD.It'sevenpossibletohavebothdisordersatthesametime.READMOREObsessive-CompulsivePersonalityDisorder(OCPD)MedicallyreviewedbyTimothyJ.Legg,PhD,PsyDObsessive-compulsivepersonalitydisorder(OCPD)isapersonalitydisorderthat’scharacterizedbyextremeperfectionism,order,andneatness.READMORECrazyTalk:WhatIsOCDandHowIsItDifferentfromGeneralizedAnxiety?MedicallyreviewedbyTimothyJ.Legg,PhD,PsyDIt’simportanttoknowthedifferencebetweenobsessive-compulsivedisorderandgeneralizedanxiety,especiallysincetheycan’talwaysbetreatedthe…READMOREIHadNoIdeaMy‘ExistentialCrises’WereaSymptomofaSeriousMentalIllnessMedicallyreviewedbyTimothyJ.Legg,PhD,PsyDAlotofpeoplethinkofOCDasbeinga“quirky”disorder.Therealityisthatitcanbeincrediblyscary.Whatothersmightthinkofasaharmless…READMORE