OCD

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Anxiety disorder Obsessive thoughts and compulsive actions Cleaning, checking, counting, hoarding, washing hands Pattern of repetitive thoughts and behaviors that are senseless and distressing but extremely difficult to overcome

Impact Young males are more likely than their female counterparts to start experiencing OCD as youth. By adulthood, this changes, OCD affecting women slightly more than me Genetics can be a cause Usually get OCD before the age of 25

Effects on Daily Life Can destroy a person's capacity to function Persistent fears- Can't focus at school or work, constantly obsessing Interferes with a normal daily routine

DSM-IV Criteria Recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses or images that are experienced at some time during the disturbance, as intrusive and inappropriate and that cause marked anxiety or distress The thoughts, impulses, or images are not simply excessive worries about real-life problems The person attempts to ignore or suppress such thoughts, impulses or images, or to neutralize them with some other thought or action The person recognizes that the obsessional thoughts, impulses, or images are a product of his or her own mind

First Person Accounts

Media Monk Some over exaggeration in TV shows and movies Generally accurate, portrays him washing his hands often, wears gloves before he touches things, obsession with dirt and contamination Some over exaggeration in TV shows and movies

Misconceptions Neat Freaks People think that if they like to be clean, they have OCD, but someone that really has OCD can't think about anything else but cleaning and having everything arranged correctly