Key facts

• OCD usually involves obsessions (unwanted, repeated thoughts or images) and compulsions (actions that you feel you must carry out because of fear or anxiety).
• OCD usually causes massive disruptions to the life of the sufferer.
• Many people who struggle with OCD don't ask for help but CBT is an effective treatment that quickly reduces symptoms. 

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Symptoms and experiences

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder. It has two main parts: obsessions and compulsions.

Obsessions are unwelcome thoughts, images, urges, worries or doubts that repeatedly appear in a sufferer's mind. They can make the person feel anxious, uncomfortable and afraid that something terrible is going to happen. 

Compulsions are repetitive acts used to reduce the anxiety caused by the obsession. They could be things like  checking a door is locked, repeating a specific phrase in your head, finding ways to reassure oneself, or washing hands.

Although many people experience minor obsessions (such as worrying about leaving the gas on, or if the door is locked) and compulsions (such as avoiding the cracks in the pavement), these cause daily problems, or bother them for very long.

If someone experiences OCD, it's likely that the obsessions and compulsions will cause disruptions to how they live their life.

treatment

People with OCD are often reluctant to seek help because they feel ashamed or embarrassed. In fact, it is estimated that people live with OCD for 10-15 years on average before asking for help.

Unfortunately though, OCD is unlikely to get better without proper treatment and support.

CBT has been proven to be an effective treatment for OCD that can help a sufferer overcome the condition completely or find ways to greatly reduce the impact it has on their life.

A specific type of CBT is used for OCD that helps people face their fears and obsessive thoughts without having to do anything in response to them . CBT will usually have an effect quite quickly and should equip clients with ways to deal with anxiety to make sure that the problem does not return in the future. 

If you are concerned that you might be suffering from OCD, try this online questionnaire. It can give you an indication of whether this type of anxiety has become a problem for you