OCD
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
If you need to talk to someone today, call Tele-MANAS on 14416 or KIRAN on 1800-599-0019 — free, confidential, 24/7.
What is it?
OCD involves two connected parts: obsessions — unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images, or urges that cause significant distress — and compulsions — repetitive behaviours or mental acts performed to reduce that distress or prevent a feared outcome.
The compulsions often provide only brief relief, and the cycle repeats, consuming significant time and interfering with daily life.
Common signs & symptoms
- Intrusive, distressing thoughts about contamination, harm, symmetry, or taboo topics that the person doesn’t want and finds upsetting
- Repetitive behaviours: excessive checking, washing, counting, arranging, or seeking reassurance
- Significant time — an hour or more a day — spent on obsessions or compulsions
- Awareness that the thoughts or behaviours are excessive, coupled with an inability to stop them
- Avoidance of triggers — places, objects, situations — linked to the obsessions
What it is not
Liking things neat, or double-checking you locked the door once, isn’t OCD. OCD involves genuine distress, significant time cost, and interference with daily functioning — the person usually recognises the thoughts or rituals are excessive but feels unable to stop.
When to seek help
If intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviours are consuming significant time, causing distress, or interfering with work, relationships, or routines, it’s time to consult a professional.
OCD responds well to specific evidence-based therapies — particularly ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) — and, where needed, medication.
Screening tools clinicians use
Clinicians may use instruments such as the Y-BOCS (Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale) to assess symptom severity as part of a full clinical evaluation.
How to get help
This page is for general awareness and is not a diagnostic tool. Only a qualified professional can diagnose OCD. This platform does not provide emergency or diagnostic services — see our full Disclaimer.