Understanding
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterised by unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviours or mental acts (compulsions). These symptoms can significantly interfere with daily life, relationships, and work, creating considerable distress and time-consuming rituals.
Understanding
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterised by unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviours or mental acts (compulsions). These symptoms can significantly interfere with daily life, relationships, and work, creating considerable distress and time-consuming rituals.
Understanding
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterised by unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviours or mental acts (compulsions). These symptoms can significantly interfere with daily life, relationships, and work, creating considerable distress and time-consuming rituals.
What does Obsessive Compulsive Disorder feel like?
Living with OCD can feel like being trapped in a cycle of distressing thoughts and behaviours that you know are irrational but feel unable to control. Intrusive thoughts might involve fears of contamination, harm coming to loved ones, or things being "not quite right," creating intense anxiety and uncertainty. The compulsions - whether physical actions like checking, washing, or arranging, or mental rituals like counting or repeating phrases - provide temporary relief but strengthen the cycle.
Many people describe feeling like a prisoner in their own mind, spending hours each day performing rituals or trying to resist urges. The condition often involves perfectionism, responsibility fears, and "what if" thinking that can make even simple decisions feel overwhelming and fraught with potential catastrophe.
Common Symptoms
Intrusive, unwanted thoughts, images, or urges (obsessions)
Repetitive behaviours or mental acts performed to reduce anxiety
Excessive checking, washing, counting, or arranging behaviours
Fear of contamination or causing harm to others
Need for things to be symmetrical, "just right," or perfect
Intrusive thoughts about religion, sexuality, or violence
Significant time spent on rituals (often hours per day)
Distress and impairment in relationships, work, or daily functioning
What does Obsessive Compulsive Disorder feel like?
Living with OCD can feel like being trapped in a cycle of distressing thoughts and behaviours that you know are irrational but feel unable to control. Intrusive thoughts might involve fears of contamination, harm coming to loved ones, or things being "not quite right," creating intense anxiety and uncertainty. The compulsions - whether physical actions like checking, washing, or arranging, or mental rituals like counting or repeating phrases - provide temporary relief but strengthen the cycle.
Many people describe feeling like a prisoner in their own mind, spending hours each day performing rituals or trying to resist urges. The condition often involves perfectionism, responsibility fears, and "what if" thinking that can make even simple decisions feel overwhelming and fraught with potential catastrophe.
Common Symptoms
Intrusive, unwanted thoughts, images, or urges (obsessions)
Repetitive behaviours or mental acts performed to reduce anxiety
Excessive checking, washing, counting, or arranging behaviours
Fear of contamination or causing harm to others
Need for things to be symmetrical, "just right," or perfect
Intrusive thoughts about religion, sexuality, or violence
Significant time spent on rituals (often hours per day)
Distress and impairment in relationships, work, or daily functioning
What does Obsessive Compulsive Disorder feel like?
Living with OCD can feel like being trapped in a cycle of distressing thoughts and behaviours that you know are irrational but feel unable to control. Intrusive thoughts might involve fears of contamination, harm coming to loved ones, or things being "not quite right," creating intense anxiety and uncertainty. The compulsions - whether physical actions like checking, washing, or arranging, or mental rituals like counting or repeating phrases - provide temporary relief but strengthen the cycle.
Many people describe feeling like a prisoner in their own mind, spending hours each day performing rituals or trying to resist urges. The condition often involves perfectionism, responsibility fears, and "what if" thinking that can make even simple decisions feel overwhelming and fraught with potential catastrophe.
Common Symptoms
Intrusive, unwanted thoughts, images, or urges (obsessions)
Repetitive behaviours or mental acts performed to reduce anxiety
Excessive checking, washing, counting, or arranging behaviours
Fear of contamination or causing harm to others
Need for things to be symmetrical, "just right," or perfect
Intrusive thoughts about religion, sexuality, or violence
Significant time spent on rituals (often hours per day)
Distress and impairment in relationships, work, or daily functioning
History of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Understanding OCD has evolved from viewing it as rare and untreatable to recognising it as a common condition with effective, evidence-based treatments available.
Late 1800s
French psychiatrist Pierre Janet first described obsessive-compulsive symptoms systematically, distinguishing them from other mental health conditions and recognising the distressing nature of unwanted intrusive thoughts.
1960s
Behaviour therapy techniques like exposure and response prevention were developed, providing the first effective psychological treatments and demonstrating that OCD symptoms could be significantly reduced through structured intervention.
1980s
The discovery that certain medications (particularly SSRIs) were effective for OCD led to better understanding of the neurobiological aspects, whilst brain imaging began revealing the specific neural circuits involved.
Present
Modern treatment combines cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) with exposure and response prevention (ERP) as gold standard treatment, supported by neuroimaging research showing how effective therapy actually changes brain activity patterns in OCD-related circuits.
History of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Understanding OCD has evolved from viewing it as rare and untreatable to recognising it as a common condition with effective, evidence-based treatments available.
Late 1800s
French psychiatrist Pierre Janet first described obsessive-compulsive symptoms systematically, distinguishing them from other mental health conditions and recognising the distressing nature of unwanted intrusive thoughts.
1960s
Behaviour therapy techniques like exposure and response prevention were developed, providing the first effective psychological treatments and demonstrating that OCD symptoms could be significantly reduced through structured intervention.
1980s
The discovery that certain medications (particularly SSRIs) were effective for OCD led to better understanding of the neurobiological aspects, whilst brain imaging began revealing the specific neural circuits involved.
Present
Modern treatment combines cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) with exposure and response prevention (ERP) as gold standard treatment, supported by neuroimaging research showing how effective therapy actually changes brain activity patterns in OCD-related circuits.
History of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Understanding OCD has evolved from viewing it as rare and untreatable to recognising it as a common condition with effective, evidence-based treatments available.
Late 1800s
French psychiatrist Pierre Janet first described obsessive-compulsive symptoms systematically, distinguishing them from other mental health conditions and recognising the distressing nature of unwanted intrusive thoughts.
1960s
Behaviour therapy techniques like exposure and response prevention were developed, providing the first effective psychological treatments and demonstrating that OCD symptoms could be significantly reduced through structured intervention.
1980s
The discovery that certain medications (particularly SSRIs) were effective for OCD led to better understanding of the neurobiological aspects, whilst brain imaging began revealing the specific neural circuits involved.
Present
Modern treatment combines cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) with exposure and response prevention (ERP) as gold standard treatment, supported by neuroimaging research showing how effective therapy actually changes brain activity patterns in OCD-related circuits.
Take our free self-test
Take our free self-test
Take a short self-test to see if counselling might make a difference.
Take a short self-test to see if counselling might make a difference.
Instructions
Answer based on the last 2 weeks. Choose the option that fits best. You’ll see your results at the end.
This short self-test screens for OCD symptoms. It isn’t a diagnosis, but it can help you decide next steps.
How therapy can help
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy with Exposure and Response Prevention (CBT-ERP) is the most effective treatment for OCD. This approach helps you gradually face feared situations whilst resisting the urge to perform compulsions, breaking the cycle that maintains OCD symptoms.
Therapy focuses on understanding how obsessions and compulsions interact, developing tolerance for uncertainty and discomfort, and reclaiming time and energy from OCD rituals. Treatment also addresses perfectionism, responsibility beliefs, and other thinking patterns that fuel OCD, whilst building confidence in your ability to cope with intrusive thoughts without engaging in compulsive behaviours.
Benefits of Therapy
Learn to resist compulsions and break the OCD cycle
Reduce the frequency and intensity of intrusive thoughts
Develop tolerance for uncertainty and uncomfortable feelings
Challenge perfectionism and excessive responsibility beliefs
Reclaim time previously spent on rituals and checking behaviours
Improve relationships affected by OCD symptoms and avoidance
Build confidence in coping with intrusive thoughts without compulsions
Prevent relapse through ongoing maintenance strategies and skills
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about OCD and evidence-based treatment approaches
Are intrusive thoughts in OCD dangerous, and do they mean I want to act on them?
Can OCD be cured, or is it something I'll always have to manage?
Why can't I just stop doing the compulsions if I know they're irrational?
Is medication necessary for treating OCD?
How therapy can help
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy with Exposure and Response Prevention (CBT-ERP) is the most effective treatment for OCD. This approach helps you gradually face feared situations whilst resisting the urge to perform compulsions, breaking the cycle that maintains OCD symptoms.
Therapy focuses on understanding how obsessions and compulsions interact, developing tolerance for uncertainty and discomfort, and reclaiming time and energy from OCD rituals. Treatment also addresses perfectionism, responsibility beliefs, and other thinking patterns that fuel OCD, whilst building confidence in your ability to cope with intrusive thoughts without engaging in compulsive behaviours.
Benefits of Therapy
Learn to resist compulsions and break the OCD cycle
Reduce the frequency and intensity of intrusive thoughts
Develop tolerance for uncertainty and uncomfortable feelings
Challenge perfectionism and excessive responsibility beliefs
Reclaim time previously spent on rituals and checking behaviours
Improve relationships affected by OCD symptoms and avoidance
Build confidence in coping with intrusive thoughts without compulsions
Prevent relapse through ongoing maintenance strategies and skills
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about OCD and evidence-based treatment approaches
Are intrusive thoughts in OCD dangerous, and do they mean I want to act on them?
Can OCD be cured, or is it something I'll always have to manage?
Why can't I just stop doing the compulsions if I know they're irrational?
Is medication necessary for treating OCD?
How therapy can help
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy with Exposure and Response Prevention (CBT-ERP) is the most effective treatment for OCD. This approach helps you gradually face feared situations whilst resisting the urge to perform compulsions, breaking the cycle that maintains OCD symptoms.
Therapy focuses on understanding how obsessions and compulsions interact, developing tolerance for uncertainty and discomfort, and reclaiming time and energy from OCD rituals. Treatment also addresses perfectionism, responsibility beliefs, and other thinking patterns that fuel OCD, whilst building confidence in your ability to cope with intrusive thoughts without engaging in compulsive behaviours.
Benefits of Therapy
Learn to resist compulsions and break the OCD cycle
Reduce the frequency and intensity of intrusive thoughts
Develop tolerance for uncertainty and uncomfortable feelings
Challenge perfectionism and excessive responsibility beliefs
Reclaim time previously spent on rituals and checking behaviours
Improve relationships affected by OCD symptoms and avoidance
Build confidence in coping with intrusive thoughts without compulsions
Prevent relapse through ongoing maintenance strategies and skills
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about OCD and evidence-based treatment approaches
Are intrusive thoughts in OCD dangerous, and do they mean I want to act on them?
Can OCD be cured, or is it something I'll always have to manage?
Why can't I just stop doing the compulsions if I know they're irrational?
Is medication necessary for treating OCD?
