{"id":1979,"date":"2018-07-16T03:34:49","date_gmt":"2018-07-16T03:34:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=1979"},"modified":"2020-06-04T06:38:53","modified_gmt":"2020-06-04T06:38:53","slug":"12-distressing-ocd-symptoms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/12-distressing-ocd-symptoms\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Distressing OCD Symptoms"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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OCD, or obsessive-compulsive disorder, is a disturbing phenomenon. When someone suffers from this disorder, they usually have a very unique and serious pattern of thinking and behaving.
\nThe issue is only labeled as a mental illness if and when the person\u2019s actions become so extreme that they\u2019re unable to lead a normal lifestyle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OCD is characterized by four main elements-obsession, anxiety, compulsion, and temporary relief.
\nThe pattern starts when an obsession thought comes into play and then creates distress until the trigger is sorted out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trigger could be something as simple as an uneven vegetable. The patient is then compelled to rectify the situation, after which they feel some relief before the next issue arises. There are several symptoms within this cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below, we\u2019ll talk about some of the most distressing ones. This would help us get some idea of what it must be like to live with OCD:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Forcefully Obsessive Thoughts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Having intruding, unwanted, and seemingly unshakeable thoughts are among the very first sign of OCD. They\u2019re usually present for every kind of OCD patient to different extents. Of course, every single person would have some disturbing and stubborn strains of thought every now and then.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We may keep thinking and worrying about whether we locked the door when we left the house this morning. Some people may constantly feel the nagging sense of having forgotten something when they go on a trip or move house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the thought patterns of an OCD patient are something much more serious. These thoughts are not at the back of their mind, but rather interrupt the useful thoughts they\u2019re trying to have during the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These may even include sudden, inexplicably violent or disturbing images. If you or a loved one are having such thoughts, it may be time to visit an expert. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Fear of Harming Others<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The life and thought patterns of an OCD patient is also characterized by certain fears. Again, all of us experience some sort of worry or fear at some point in our lives. Parents, especially, may worry about a thousand different things happening to their children during the day. However, the fears of an OCD patient are highly disturbing, even if they\u2019re mostly fantastical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One fear that many OCD sufferers can\u2019t seem to shake is that of harming others. They could spend hours worrying about and creating mental scenarios where they\u2019ve harmed the ones they love. They would be genuinely terrified of going mad and hurting their friends or even their children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This fear would generally keep them from leading life in a normal manner. Needless to say, it may also prevent them from sleeping at night. This would cause certain health issues and aggravate the situation.
\nfear of deliberately harming yourself or others \u2013 for example, fear you may attack someone else, such as your children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Fear of Harming Self<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In addition to the fear of hurting others, the fear of hurting one\u2019s own self is also apparent with such a disorder. OCD patients would also worry a lot about hurting themselves in some manner, whether deliberately or by mistake. They may be constantly stressing about having left the gas on, visualizing the house blowing up with them inside it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Such fears are not always obvious to the people around the patient him\/herself. Obviously, such thoughts are in the own head and cannot be fathomed by those around them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, we can gauge such symptoms by noticing how a person might be compulsively running back to check the stove, the water heater, the placement of the knives, or generally rechecking anything that could cause them harm. If they\u2019re unable to do so, their stress levels could reach a dangerous height and cause more health issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Fear of Contamination<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When non-OCD people read about new diseases, plagues, or sicknesses, they may feel worried for a minute. Then there are hypochondriacs, who start suspecting that they themselves have every kind of disease imaginable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, OCD patients react in a somewhat different manner. They\u2019re actually terrified of getting any disease or being contaminated by an infection, unpleasant substance, or illness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In response to such a fear, we may find OCD patients compulsively washing and rewashing their hands. They may also be particular about the soap and towel they use.In fact, they may wash their hands and themselves so often and so aggressively that their skin starts to peel off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In many cases, such patients also tend to wash their surroundings before touching them. This leads to a lot of wasted time, water damage, and other problems. This would create difficulties for those living with the patient too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Repulsive Thoughts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The thoughts of an OCD patient are not just limited to fears and obsessions about keeping everything straight. These thoughts may be downright disturbing in themselves, but it\u2019s important to realize that they don\u2019t really reflect on the personality of the thinker. This is important to understand for the sake of mental stability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As an example, someone suffering from OCD could suddenly experience thoughts of a highly violent and even sexual nature. These could be offensive images, imaginary scenes, or just uncontrollable thoughts about something very repulsive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s obvious that the person undergoing the pain of such thoughts would think that there\u2019s something terribly wrong with them. For the most part, though, having these thoughts doesn’t mean that a person would actually follow them through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, there\u2019s still no denying their disturbing effect. An OCD patient may have nightmares or experience other sleeping issues as a result. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Depression<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

OCD could also be coupled with several other disturbing and even dangerous disorders. Of these, one of the most serious is depression. This would be categorized by a general sense of hopelessness, sadness, despair, and a waning interest in things that they once enjoyed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, you or a loved one may have loved to exercise a few months ago, but have become extremely sedentary of late. This would lead to isolation and anti-socialism, which would only aggravate this condition.
\nLinked to depression are suicidal feelings and self-harm as well. Suicidal thoughts, no matter what your other symptoms are, should not be ignored at any cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Self-harm, such as cutting yourself with razor blades or burning yourself with cigarettes, are more obvious symptoms. If you see such symptoms in anyone, they may suffer from both OCD and depression. OCD usually makes life very difficult, leading to depressive thoughts and feelings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Eating Disorders<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

OCD and eating disorders are also two issues that are commonly linked for obvious reasons. For instance, someone with OCD may only eat or cook when the ingredients look a certain way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They may require the potatoes to be completely round or the bananas to be completely free from any imperfections. It\u2019s obvious here that their eating would hence be severely limited since they won\u2019t consume anything that isn\u2019t just right. This could be an anorexia form where one is terrified of eating regular foods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This attitude towards food is a highly abnormal one and can cause serious weight loss or weight gain if you eat too much of one specific food. It would also be a huge waste of time and take away the enjoyment from cooking or experimenting with different recipes. It could hence disturb the daily routine of the OCD patient and their family. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Generalized Anxiety<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Generalized anxiety is a disorder where one feels anxious and worried about several issues at the same time.
\nThey won\u2019t just be stressing over one problem or be able to give priority to one issue over another. They would actually not be able to separate one anxiety trigger for another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This would make them even less capable of dealing with the actual problems, thus delaying their solutions and contributing even more to their own anxiety. This causes a vicious cycle and a downward spiral.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The parallels between this condition and that of OCD are obvious here. While OCD usually fixates on one issue, it could fixate on a number of them quite easily. The resulting stress and anxiety are definitely not good for any human being to undergo. It\u2019s hence highly recommended that anyone experiencing such symptoms should visit a mental health expert sooner rather than later. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Hoarding<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We talked about OCD-related fears right at the beginning of this discussion. Another one of these is the fear that OCD patients have about running out of something. They may hence stock up on it and refuse to throw any of it away. This could include their feelings of needing something and not having it, thus aggravating their hoarding instincts and make them more likely to live in a highly cluttered space full of useless items.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While many of us are guilty about having messy cupboards and too much stuff, the hoarding on an OCD level is something quite different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s even a television show dedicated to such people, with the apt title of \u2018Hoarders\u2019. It\u2019s highly possible that at least some of the individuals featured on that show are patients of OCD, whether diagnosed or not. Living in all that clutter would certainly make life very difficult. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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10. Counting and Arranging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The habit of compulsively counting and arranging items in a certain way is also linked to OCD.
\nIt\u2019s one of the most recognized symptoms, especially if the situation gets out of hand. It may not be immediately obvious why arranging things just so is a disturbing symptom until you actually see it in action. For example, an OCD patient would want all the labels of every can facing the same direction. This could make it impossible for them to get a can from the back of the shelf without taking out every item in front of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In short, everything has to be counted and accounted for or arranged in a specific pattern or according to a certain system. This could be due to the patient\u2019s need for symmetry, or simply the need to do something in order to neutralize the disturbing thoughts in the head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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11. Tapping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In addition to needing everything in a certain order, people with OCD may also be found tapping the walls or table a certain time. They may also open and shut a drawer repeatedly until it goes in \u2018just right\u2019 or flip the light switches on and off a number of times. This is a part of their disorder that\u2019s linked to a superstitious fear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They\u2019re actually afraid that something bad will happen if the tapping is not done or if a certain action is not completed perfectly. This superstitious strain would also lead to other OCD symptoms that we\u2019ve talked about earlier, such as the arranging or organizing. This is not to say that the patient isn\u2019t realizing how illogical they\u2019re being. They may be completely aware of the unreasonable fears they\u2019re experiencing, but be unable t do anything about it. In such cases, psychiatric assistance is required. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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12. Damage to Own Body<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

An obsessive-compulsive person usually wants everything to be perfect. When things don\u2019t always go their way, as they usually don\u2019t, their levels of stress and anxiety could go through the roof. As a result, they may be seen displaying highly disturbing symptoms such as picking on their skin, pulling their hair, or even eating it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The constant skin-picking would usually result in painful lesions that cause long-term damage. The pulling of hair would result in bald spots all over the head or even complete baldness. It goes without saying that such symptoms are highly disturbing both for the patients and their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the patient may still be careful to hide these actions from those around them. We should all be well-versed in the hidden and apparent symptoms of OCD in order to help out a suffering person before things get too serious.
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