This document discusses obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and the experiences of those who suffer from it. OCD involves obsessive thoughts and fears that lead to compulsive behaviors. Common types of OCD include checking, contamination, hoarding, and intrusive thoughts related to relationships, sex, religion, and violence. The document shares stories of individuals struggling with checking and contamination OCD and how their compulsions control many aspects of daily life. It emphasizes that OCD can be treated through therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy and medication, and untreated OCD will likely worsen over time.

1. OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE
DISORDER (OCD)
An Anxiety disorder

2. WHAT IS OBSESSIVE COMPULSION
DISORDER?
 Unreasonable thoughts and fears, known as
obsessions, that cause repetitive behaviors
(compulsions).
 One could have only one and still have OCD
 People may try to ignore them, but they have
difficulty doing so

3. WHAT IS IT LIKE TO SUFFER FROM OCD?
 It affects my everyday life
 I am always late
 I have constant fears
 I suffer from anxiety

4. COMMON MYTHS OF OCD
1. It cannot be treated
2. It is a brain disease
3. People with OCD are just crazy
4. Bad parenting causes OCD
5. They make good accountants

5. TYPES OF OCDS
Checking
Contamination/M
ental
Contamination
Hoarding
Ruminations/Intrusive
thoughts

6. CHECKING OCD
 I suffer from this OCD which impacts my life in
many ways such as:
Running late for meetings,
appointments, etc.
Job responsibilities
Damages objects
Personal
relationships

7. WHY I HAVE A CHECKING OCD
 I check since I have a fear of harming accidentally
or impulsively
 It helps me reduce stress when I am uncertain or
doubtful of a consequence
 When a random thought pops in my head that I
consider a threat, I check
 I believe that if I think of something bad, it will likely
occur

8. EVERYDAY LIFE FOR ME CONSISTS OF…
 Checking my memory to make sure a bad thought
did not actually happen
 Repeatedly locking my car doors
 Searching illnesses and symptoms online to be
certain I have not developed anything new
 Calling and Texting throughout the entire day in
case anything happens to someone
 Always fearing that I did something wrong
 Re-reading words or lines to make sure I take in the
information

9. BEFORE I LEAVE THE HOUSE I ALWAYS HAVE TO
CHECK……
 The stove knobs
 House lights
 Appliances
 Candles
 Water taps
 Door locks
 House alarm
 Windows
 Wallet or purse
Because I am afraid the house will
burn down
Because I am afraid the house will
flood
Because I am afraid a burglar will
break in
Because I am afraid I will lose my
cards

10. CONTAMINATION OCD
 Those with contamination OCD are constantly
cleaning themselves as well as their homes
 They have a constant fear that things are
contaminated and will cause harm to them
 They will repeatedly wash their hands and body
until they feel it is clean
 Someone with a contamination OCD will completely
avoid places that they are concerned are
contaminated

11. THOSE WITH A CONTAMINATION OCD HAVE
TROUBLE
 Using public toilets
 Coming into contact with chemicals
 Shaking hands
 Touching door knobs/handles
 Using public telephones
 Visiting hospitals
 Eating in a cafe/restaurant
 Touching banisters on staircases
 Being in a crowd
 Clothes
 Excessive Tooth Brushing
 Cleaning of Kitchen and Bathroom

12. HOARDING
 Inability to get rid of useless possessions
 In the past this was less responsive to treatment
than other forms of OCD but now various forms of
treatment have been discovered

13. RUMINATIONS
 A series of prolonged thinking about a question or
theme that is undirected and unproductive
 Not objectionable and are indulged rather than
resisted
 Tend to be on religious, philosophical, or
metaphysical topics
 Origins of the universe, life after death, the nature
of morality and many more are common

14. INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS
 Repetitive, disturbing obsessional thoughts
 Covers the following topics:
 Relationships
 Sexual Thoughts
 Magical Thinking
 Religious
 Violent Thoughts

15. AVOIDANCE
 People with OCD, as myself, will avoid mostly
anything that triggers their particular OCD
 This includes objects, places or people
 By doing this it avoids the stress that these cause
 Since I have a checking problem, I avoid tasks or
situations that involves responsibility

16. TRIGGERS
 A place, person or object that sets off an obsession,
a feeling of discomfort, or an urge
 Can be physical or mental
 Examples:
sharp objects
dead person

17. TREATMENT
 Family or group therapy
 Refocus attention
 Write them down
 Anticipate urges
 Make a worry period
 Create a tape of your OCD
 Medicine

18. HOW I PLAN ON TREATING IT
 I will try to refocus my attention to something else
so that I these thoughts do not come to mind
 Exercising, listening to music, reading, and many
more common activities can help me overcome this
disorder

19. HOW I PLAN ON TREATING IT
 I realize I have a problem and will try to fix it
 I will try to limit myself to checking only a certain
number of times
 I will write my problems down and seek help

20. WHY IS TREATMENT IMPORTANT?
 OCD can be a harmful disorder that can lead to
physical problems as well as mental
 OCD should not be taken lightly and is important
that you accept it and get treatment
 If you ignore it, it will lead to even more stress