What are the most prevalent obsessions and compulsions in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. How do these symptoms manifest in daily life. What causes OCD and what are effective treatment options. How can individuals with OCD manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.

Understanding Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by persistent, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) that an individual feels compelled to perform to alleviate anxiety or distress. OCD can significantly impact a person’s daily life, relationships, and overall well-being.

Do obsessions and compulsions always occur together in OCD? While obsessions and compulsions often go hand in hand, some individuals may experience primarily obsessive or primarily compulsive symptoms. The severity and specific manifestations of OCD can vary greatly from person to person.

Common Obsessions in OCD: Intrusive Thoughts and Fears

Obsessions are unwanted, recurring thoughts, images, or urges that cause significant distress and anxiety. These thoughts are often irrational and go against the individual’s values and beliefs. Common obsessions in OCD include:

• Fear of contamination or germs
• Concerns about symmetry and order
• Intrusive violent or sexual thoughts
• Fear of harming oneself or others
• Religious or moral obsessions (scrupulosity)
• Fear of losing control
• Superstitious beliefs

How do obsessions differ from normal worries? Obsessions are more intense, persistent, and distressing than typical worries. They often feel uncontrollable and lead to significant anxiety or discomfort, prompting individuals to engage in compulsive behaviors to alleviate these feelings.

Contamination and Cleanliness Obsessions

One of the most common types of obsessions in OCD revolves around fears of contamination and an excessive need for cleanliness. These obsessions can manifest in various ways:

• Fear of bodily fluids (e.g., urine, feces, saliva)
• Concern about contracting diseases (e.g., HIV, herpes)
• Worry about environmental contaminants (e.g., asbestos, radiation)
• Anxiety about household chemicals and cleaning products
• Obsessive thoughts about dirt and grime

Can contamination obsessions lead to avoidance behaviors? Yes, individuals with contamination-related obsessions may avoid public spaces, refuse to touch certain objects, or limit their social interactions to minimize exposure to perceived contaminants.

Harm-Related Obsessions

Harm-related obsessions involve persistent fears about causing harm to oneself or others, either intentionally or unintentionally. These obsessions can be particularly distressing and may include:

• Fear of acting on violent impulses
• Concern about accidentally causing a disaster (e.g., fire, burglary)
• Worry about harming others through negligence
• Intrusive thoughts about harming loved ones

Are individuals with harm-related obsessions more likely to act on these thoughts? No, people with OCD are not more likely to act on their intrusive thoughts. In fact, they are often deeply disturbed by these thoughts and go to great lengths to prevent any harm from occurring.

Symmetry and Perfectionism Obsessions

Some individuals with OCD experience obsessions related to symmetry, order, and perfectionism. These obsessions can manifest as:

• Need for items to be arranged in a specific way
• Concern about evenness or exactness
• Fear of losing or forgetting important information
• Difficulty making decisions about keeping or discarding items
• Obsessive need for things to feel “just right”

How do perfectionism obsessions impact daily life? Perfectionism obsessions can lead to significant time consumption, indecisiveness, and difficulty completing tasks, as individuals may feel compelled to repeat actions until they achieve a sense of perfection.

Common Compulsions in OCD: Repetitive Behaviors and Mental Acts

Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts that individuals with OCD feel driven to perform in response to their obsessions. These compulsions are aimed at reducing anxiety or preventing feared outcomes. Common compulsions include:

• Excessive washing and cleaning
• Checking and rechecking
• Counting and repeating
• Ordering and arranging
• Mental rituals and prayers
• Seeking reassurance
• Hoarding

Do compulsions provide long-term relief from obsessions? While compulsions may offer temporary relief from anxiety, they ultimately reinforce the obsessive thoughts and perpetuate the cycle of OCD. Long-term relief typically requires professional treatment and learning to resist compulsive urges.

Washing and Cleaning Compulsions

Washing and cleaning compulsions are often associated with contamination obsessions and can include:

• Excessive hand washing or showering
• Ritualized cleaning routines
• Overuse of sanitizers and disinfectants
• Avoiding contact with potentially contaminated objects
• Excessive grooming or hygiene rituals

Can washing compulsions lead to physical health issues? Yes, excessive washing can result in skin damage, irritation, and increased vulnerability to infections due to the disruption of the skin’s natural protective barrier.

Checking Compulsions

Checking compulsions are often related to fears of harm or making mistakes and may include:

• Repeatedly checking locks, appliances, or alarms
• Reviewing past actions to ensure no harm was done
• Checking one’s own body for signs of illness or injury
• Seeking constant reassurance from others
• Mental reviewing of conversations or events

How much time can checking compulsions consume? Checking compulsions can be extremely time-consuming, with some individuals spending hours each day engaged in repetitive checking behaviors, significantly impacting their daily functioning and productivity.

Ordering and Arranging Compulsions

Ordering and arranging compulsions often stem from a need for symmetry and perfection. These compulsions may involve:

• Arranging objects in specific patterns or orders
• Aligning items to be perfectly straight or evenly spaced
• Organizing belongings according to strict rules
• Repeating actions until they feel “just right”
• Rearranging items multiple times to achieve perfection

Can ordering compulsions interfere with work or school performance? Yes, the time and mental energy devoted to ordering and arranging compulsions can significantly impact an individual’s ability to focus on work or academic tasks, potentially leading to decreased performance and increased stress.

The Impact of OCD on Daily Life and Relationships

OCD can have a profound impact on an individual’s daily life, affecting various aspects of their personal and professional experiences. Some of the ways OCD can influence daily functioning include:

• Time consumption: Obsessions and compulsions can occupy hours each day, leaving little time for other activities.
• Social isolation: Fear of triggering obsessions or the need to perform compulsions may lead to avoiding social situations.
• Relationship strain: OCD symptoms can create tension and misunderstanding in personal relationships.
• Work or academic difficulties: Obsessions and compulsions may interfere with concentration and productivity.
• Financial burden: OCD-related behaviors, such as excessive cleaning or checking, can lead to increased expenses.
• Emotional distress: The constant cycle of obsessions and compulsions can result in anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.

How can family members and friends support someone with OCD? Loved ones can provide support by educating themselves about OCD, offering patience and understanding, encouraging professional treatment, and avoiding participation in or accommodation of OCD rituals.

Causes and Risk Factors for OCD

The exact causes of OCD are not fully understood, but research suggests that a combination of factors may contribute to its development. These factors include:

• Genetics: OCD tends to run in families, suggesting a genetic component.
• Brain structure and functioning: Differences in certain areas of the brain may play a role in OCD.
• Environmental factors: Traumatic experiences or significant life changes may trigger OCD in susceptible individuals.
• Learned behaviors: Some researchers suggest that compulsive behaviors may be learned responses to reduce anxiety.
• Neurotransmitter imbalances: Abnormalities in the brain’s serotonin system may contribute to OCD symptoms.

Is OCD more common in certain age groups or populations? OCD can affect people of all ages, but symptoms typically begin in childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood. It affects men and women equally, though the onset may occur slightly earlier in males.

Diagnosis and Treatment Options for OCD

Diagnosing OCD involves a comprehensive evaluation by a mental health professional. The diagnostic process typically includes:

• Clinical interview to assess symptoms and their impact on daily life
• Review of medical and psychiatric history
• Use of standardized diagnostic criteria, such as those in the DSM-5
• Screening for co-occurring mental health conditions

Treatment for OCD often involves a combination of approaches, including:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), particularly Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
• Medication, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
• Mindfulness and relaxation techniques
• Support groups and family therapy
• Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for treatment-resistant cases

What is the success rate of OCD treatment? With appropriate treatment, many individuals with OCD experience significant improvement in their symptoms. Studies suggest that 50-80% of patients respond positively to a combination of medication and CBT.

Coping Strategies and Self-Help Techniques for Managing OCD Symptoms

While professional treatment is crucial for managing OCD, there are several self-help strategies that individuals can employ to cope with their symptoms:

• Practice mindfulness and meditation to reduce anxiety
• Engage in regular exercise to promote overall mental health
• Maintain a consistent sleep schedule
• Join support groups to connect with others who understand OCD
• Keep a journal to track obsessions, compulsions, and triggers
• Learn and practice relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing
• Challenge obsessive thoughts using cognitive restructuring techniques
• Gradually expose yourself to feared situations with the guidance of a therapist

Can lifestyle changes alone effectively manage OCD symptoms? While lifestyle changes can be beneficial, they are typically most effective when combined with professional treatment. OCD is a complex disorder that often requires a comprehensive approach for successful management.

The Role of Family and Support Systems

Family members and friends play a crucial role in supporting individuals with OCD. Some ways they can help include:

• Educating themselves about OCD to better understand the condition
• Encouraging the person to seek and maintain professional treatment
• Avoiding criticism or blame for OCD symptoms
• Refraining from participating in or accommodating OCD rituals
• Celebrating small victories and progress in managing symptoms
• Attending family therapy sessions to improve communication and support

How can family members set healthy boundaries while supporting someone with OCD? It’s important for family members to maintain their own well-being while supporting their loved one. This may involve setting limits on accommodation of OCD behaviors, seeking their own support or therapy, and encouraging independence in the person with OCD.

Recent Advances in OCD Research and Treatment

Ongoing research continues to expand our understanding of OCD and improve treatment options. Some recent advances include:

• Neuroimaging studies providing insights into brain activity patterns in OCD
• Investigation of novel pharmacological treatments targeting glutamate pathways
• Refinement of CBT techniques for more effective and efficient treatment
• Exploration of digital health interventions and teletherapy for OCD
• Research into the potential of psychedelic-assisted therapy for treatment-resistant OCD

What promising new treatments are on the horizon for OCD? Emerging treatments include deep brain stimulation for severe, treatment-resistant cases, as well as novel medications targeting different neurotransmitter systems. Additionally, personalized medicine approaches aimed at tailoring treatments to individual genetic and neurobiological profiles show promise.

The Importance of Early Intervention

Recognizing and addressing OCD symptoms early can lead to better treatment outcomes. Early intervention may:

• Prevent symptoms from becoming more severe and entrenched
• Reduce the impact of OCD on personal and professional development
• Improve overall quality of life and mental health
• Decrease the risk of developing co-occurring mental health conditions
• Enhance the effectiveness of treatment strategies

How can parents recognize early signs of OCD in children? Parents should be aware of behaviors such as excessive washing, checking, or repetitive actions, as well as signs of distress or anxiety related to specific thoughts or situations. Consulting with a pediatrician or mental health professional can help determine if these behaviors warrant further evaluation.

In conclusion, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a complex mental health condition that can significantly impact an individual’s life. By understanding the common obsessions and compulsions associated with OCD, recognizing its impact on daily functioning, and exploring available treatment options, individuals with OCD and their loved ones can take important steps toward managing symptoms and improving quality of life. With ongoing research and advancements in treatment approaches, there is hope for more effective interventions and better outcomes for those affected by OCD.

What Are Common Obsessions and Compulsions?

Everyday Health: What are some common obsessions and compulsions of people living with OCD?

Jeff Szymanski, PhD (ocfoundation.org)

Obsessions: Thoughts, images, or impulses that occur over and over again and feel out of the person’s control. The person does not want to have these ideas. He or she finds them disturbing and unwanted, and usually knows that they don’t make sense. They come with uncomfortable feelings, such as fear, disgust, doubt, or a feeling that things have to be done in a way that is “just right.” They take a lot of time and get in the way of important activities the person values. Compulsions: Repetitive behaviors or thoughts that a person engages in to neutralize, counteract, or make their obsessions go away. People with OCD realize this is only a temporary solution, but without a better way to cope, they rely on the compulsion as a temporary escape. Compulsions can also include avoiding situations that trigger obsessions. Compulsions are time consuming and get in the way of important activities the person values.

Common Obsessions in OCD

Contamination:

• Body fluids (examples: urine, feces)
• Germs/disease (examples: herpes, HIV)
• Environmental contaminants (examples: asbestos, radiation)
• Household chemicals (examples: cleaners, solvents)
• Dirt

Losing Control:

• Fear of acting on an impulse to harm oneself
• Fear of acting on an impulse to harm others
• Fear of violent or horrific images in one’s mind
• Fear of blurting out obscenities or insults
• Fear of stealing things

Harm:

• Fear of being responsible for something terrible happening (examples: fire, burglary)
• Fear of harming others because of not being careful enough (example: dropping something on the ground that might cause someone to slip and hurt him/herself)

Perfectionism:

• Concern about evenness or exactness
• Concern with a need to know or remember
• Fear of losing or forgetting important information when throwing something out
• Inability to decide whether to keep or to discard things
• Fear of losing things

Unwanted Sexual Thoughts:

• Forbidden or perverse sexual thoughts or images
• Forbidden or perverse sexual impulses about others
• Obsessions about homosexuality
• Sexual obsessions that involve children or incest
• Obsessions about aggressive sexual behavior towards others

Religious Obsessions (Scrupulosity):

• Concern with offending God, or concern about blasphemy
• Excessive concern with right/wrong or morality

Other Obsessions:

• Concern with getting a physical illness or disease (not by contamination, e. g., cancer)
• Superstitious ideas about lucky/unlucky numbers, certain colors

Common Compulsions in OCD

Washing and Cleaning:

• Washing hands excessively or in a certain way
• Excessive showering, bathing, tooth brushing, grooming or toilet routines
• Cleaning household items or other objects excessively
• Doing other things to prevent or remove contact with contaminants

Checking:

• Checking that you did not/will not harm others
• Checking that you did not/will not harm yourself
• Checking that nothing terrible happened
• Checking that you did not make a mistake
• Checking some parts of your physical condition or body

Repeating:

• Rereading or rewriting
• Repeating routine activities (examples: going in or out doors, getting up or down from chairs)
• Repeating body movements (example: tapping, touching, blinking)
• Repeating activities in “multiples” (examples: doing a task three times because three is a “good,” “right,” “safe” number)

Mental Compulsions:

• Mental review of events to prevent harm (to oneself, others, to prevent terrible consequences)
• Praying to prevent harm (to oneself, others, to prevent terrible consequences)
• Counting while performing a task to end on a “good,” “right,” or “safe” number
• “Cancelling” or “Undoing” (example: replacing a “bad” word with a “good” word to cancel it out)

Other Compulsions:

• Collecting items that results in significant clutter in the home (also called hoarding)
• Putting things in order or arranging things until it “feels right”
• Telling, asking, or confessing to get reassurance
• Avoiding situations that might trigger your obsessions

Jonathan Abramowitz, PhD (jabramowitz. com)

Common obsessions include: fears of contamination/germs, causing harm (perhaps by hitting someone with a car that you don’t mean to), making mistakes (leaving the door unlocked), disasters (causing a fire), certain numbers (such as 13 and 666), unwanted violent thoughts (thought of harming a loved one), blasphemous thoughts (cursing God), sexual thought (what if I’m a child molester, gay, or want to have sex with my mother?), need for symmetry and exactness, and thoughts that something is terribly wrong with your body (what if I have cancer?). A general theme is that obsessions concern situations where there is some degree of uncertainty (what if “X” happens and I didn’t do enough to prevent it?) Compulsive rituals are all about trying to get reassurance and certainty. For example, washing to remove germs, praying to counter blasphemous or sacrilegious thoughts that could result in going to hell, checking for assurances that doors are locked or people are OK, putting things in order (arranging), repeating other behaviors to get rid of a thought (turning a light off and on until a bad thought goes away). Also common are mental rituals that take place purely in the person’s mind.

Steven J. Brodsky, PsyD (OCDHotline.com)

There are thousands of forms of OCD, as unique as each individual. They are not limited to the ones you see on TV with themes of checking, germaphobic cleaning, ordering, perfectionism, hoarding, and hypochondriasis, etc. They can also involve body dysmorphic disorder, scrupulosity, religious OCD, relationship OCD (ROCD) in which people wonder if they love their partner or vice versa, HOCD (homosexuality OCD) in which the sufferer doubts his or her sexual orientation. OCD can even take a nonsense form, with unanswerable metaphysical questions, a song that sticks in your mind, thinking about one’s swallowing or blinking, etc.

Charles H. Elliott, PhD, and Laura L. Smith, PhD (psychology4people.com)

Common obsessions include fears about contamination, worries about having left appliances on or doors unlocked, fear of acting in shameful or humiliating ways, discomfort about things being out of order, extreme concerns about superstitions such as unlucky numbers or colors, and excessive worries about keeping objects of all kinds. Common compulsions include excessive cleaning and hand washing; repeatedly checking doors, locks, appliances, and such; rituals designed to ward off contact with superstitious objects; using prayers or chants to prevent bad things from happening; arranging and rearranging objects; and hoarding huge numbers of ordinary objects.

Kenneth Schwarz, PhD (DutchessPsychology.com)

Some common obsessions have to do with becoming contaminated, being or becoming too aggressive, having persistent sexual thoughts, being susceptible to injury or disease. There is also religious scrupulosity, where a person has unwanted, blasphemous thoughts that she must work hard to keep under control, and out of her mind, so she doesn’t just blurt them out – which is what makes her so anxious. The common element in all these obsessions are persistent, unwanted thoughts that cause a person considerable anxiety. Common compulsions used to get rid of these obsessions come under the headings of checking, cleaning, decontamination rituals, counting, and putting or keeping things in a certain order.

Charlotte M. Scott (custommovesolutions.com)

Common obsessions and compulsions that many are familiar with include the fear of germs and sickness, constant hand washing, using bleach wipes to handle everyday objects that other people have touched, and an overwhelming compulsion to clean and possibly hoard. A person may be filled with anxiety walking across a soccer field and seeing orange peels, candy wrappers, or empty water bottles and desperately wants to rid the field of the trash and clutter, yet the stronger obsession of not touching the items because of germs and bacteria creates the need to control others to pick up the items. Many people with OCD become hoarders triggered by the death of a loved one and the feeling that they must keep everything to protect the memories.

Barbara Tako (clutterclearingchoices.com)

Someone with OCD might be afraid to throw anything away and have strong emotional attachments to many things they own. On the other end of the scale, someone with OCD might turn down a coffee date or other social activity to stick with their cleaning schedule.

Allen H. Weg, EdD (stressandanxiety.com)

The most common obsessions are worries that something is “contaminated” which results in excessive avoidance or excessive washing. Another common compulsion is checking behavior, which results when a person’s obsession makes him not feel sure about something (e.g., “Is it locked?” “Is it turned off?” “Did I leave that thing behind?”) Other obsessions may have to do with sexual identity (“Am I gay?”) which results in attempts to seek reassurance that one is not gay. Also, fear of loss of impulse control, or a sense that one will act out and do something “crazy,” resulting in obsessions such as “maybe I will grab a knife and kill someone before I realize what I am doing,” or ” maybe I will just fling my body off of a high place and kill myself.” These obsessions result in people avoiding sharp objects or knives, or places of perceived danger, such as the kitchen, or high places. Besides Checkers, Hoarders, and Aggressive OCD, as depicted above, there is also ordering OCD, counting OCD, symmetry OCD, and hoarding OCD (though research has of late been demonstrating that this last form may be a different disorder altogether).

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Understanding the Two Parts of OCD

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) involves persistent, unwanted obsessions and compulsions.

With OCD, obsessive thoughts usually trigger compulsive actions meant to help dispel the thoughts and reduce distress. But this usually only provides short-term relief and doesn’t make the obsession go away.

Obsessions and compulsions can become a cycle that’s difficult to stop. The time you spend on compulsions might begin to take up so much of your day that you find it hard to get anything else done. This can affect your school, work, or personal life, leading to even more distress.

Read on to find out more about obsessions and compulsions, including examples of how they might occur together for someone and when it might help to talk to a mental health professional.

Obsessive thoughts can interrupt your daily life, upsetting you and making it hard to do things you want to do. Even if you’re aware they aren’t real and know you won’t act on them, you may still feel distressed and worry you could act on them. As a result, you might try to avoid everything that triggers these thoughts.

There are several types of obsessions, and it’s common to experience more than one type. Symptoms generally depend on the type.

Here’s a look at some common themes.

Obsessions related to contamination

These obsessions involve thoughts and worries about things that could make you dirty or sick, such as:

• mud and dirt
• bodily fluids
• radiation, pollution, or other environmental hazards
• germs and illness
• poisonous household items (cleaning products, insect spray, and so on)

Obsessions about taboo behaviors

These obsessions might come up as images or urges. They can be extremely upsetting, because you know you really don’t want to act on them. They could involve:

• sexually explicit thoughts about family members, children, or any aggressive or harmful sexual activity
• unwanted thoughts about sexual behaviors you don’t have interest in
• worry about acting violently toward others
• fear of acting in a blasphemous way or worries you’ve offended God (scrupulosity)
• fears that ordinary behaviors are wrong or immoral

It’s important to keep in mind that having these kinds of obsessive thoughts doesn’t mean you’re going act on them. Part of what makes them so distressing is that you don’t want to act on them.

Obsessions about losing control or acting on your impulses

It’s not uncommon to worry you’ll act on impulses or intrusive thoughts. For example, you might worry about:

• hurting yourself or someone else
• stealing something or breaking other laws
• having an outburst of aggressive, rude, or obscene language
• acting on unwanted images or intrusive thoughts

Again, having these obsessions doesn’t mean you’ll act on them.

Obsessions about causing accidental harm

With this type of obsession, you might worry you’ll cause an accident or disaster. Some examples include:

• poisoning someone by using the wrong ingredient or accidentally including a toxic substance when cooking
• accidentally hitting a person or animal when driving
• unintentionally leaving the stove on or an appliance plugged in and causing a fire
• forgetting to lock your home or office, which could be burglarized as a result

Obsessions about needing things to be orderly or perfect

This type of obsession goes beyond perfectionist traits. Instead of getting a sense of satisfaction from things that are tidy or symmetrical, you may feel extremely upset when something is slightly askew and need to make adjustments until it feels “just right.”

Other symptoms include:

• fearing you’ll forget, or have forgotten, something important
• needing objects or furniture to face a specific direction or be in a specific order
• needing objects (foods, items around your house, etc. ) to be even or symmetrical
• worrying about throwing things away in case they’re important or you need them later

Language matters

In casual conversation, people often use the term “obsession” to refer to something they really, really like. But in the context of OCD and related conditions, obsessions are anything but enjoyable.

Saying things like, “I’m obsessed with crime documentaries,” or talking about a football “obsession” can minimize the experience of people living with OCD and related conditions and contribute to confusion about what these conditions really involve.

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Compulsions refer to mental or physical responses or behaviors to obsessions. You may feel the need to repeat these behaviors over and over even though you don’t actually want to be doing them. This can take up hours of your day.

Carrying out these compulsions brings about a sense of relief from an obsession, but this feeling is usually short-lived.

Sometimes compulsions are related and relevant to an obsession. For example, you might check, unlock, and relock your front door seven times before leaving to prevent a break-in.

But in other cases, they might be totally unrelated. For example, you might tap a specific area of a wall before leaving the house because you feel it helps to prevent getting in a car accident on your way to work.

Like obsessions, compulsions often fit into a few major categories.

Checking compulsions

Compulsions related to checking might involve:

• making sure you didn’t or can’t hurt anyone — for example, by hiding knives or retracing driving routes
• making sure you didn’t hurt yourself
• going over your work again and again to be sure you didn’t make a mistake
• making sure appliances are turned off
• making sure doors and windows are locked
• checking your body to make sure you don’t have physical symptoms

Mental compulsions

Mental or thought rituals often include:

• praying
• counting to a specific number
• repeating words or numbers in a specific pattern or for a set number of times
• numbering or making lists about tasks or actions
• reviewing or going over events or conversations that have happened
• mentally undoing or cancelling out a negative word or image by replacing it with a positive one

Cleaning compulsions

These compulsions might involve cleaning parts of your environment or your body, such as:

• washing your hands multiple times
• avoiding touching specific objects or people to prevent contamination
• needing to follow a specific washing ritual
• following specific hygiene rituals that most people would consider excessive
• cleaning your house, work environment, or other areas repeatedly or a specific number of times

Repeating or arranging compulsions

These compulsions might involve doing things a certain number of times or until something looks or feels “just right. ” For example:

• doing something a specific number of times
• touching parts of your body multiple times or in a specific order
• tapping or touching things when you enter and leave a room
• turning all of a certain object in the same direction
• arranging things in a specific pattern
• making body movements, like blinking, a certain number of times

Other compulsions could include:

• seeking reassurance from friends, family members, or religious figures
• feeling driven to confess certain actions over and over
• avoiding triggers or any situation likely to lead to a compulsion

In general, most people with OCD experience an obsessive thought, and then feel compelled to perform an action (compulsion) to help relieve the anxiety or stress associated with the obsession.

The obsession and compulsion may have some relation to each other, but this isn’t always the case.

Here are some examples of how obsessions and compulsions might look in real life. Just keep in mind that people experience OCD and other mental health conditions in different ways. Though not comprehensive, this table is meant to help you better understand the differences between obsessions and compulsions, as well as how they relate to each other.

Obsession	Compulsion
“I know I’m straight. I’m attracted to women. I have a girlfriend. But what if I am attracted to men too?”	Searching the internet for photos of “attractive men” and looking through pages of photos to see if they cause arousal.
“What if the baby stops breathing in the night?”	Setting an alarm to go off every 30 minutes through the night to check on the baby.
Having an intrusive thought of taking off clothes in the middle of a work meeting.	Spelling “quiet” backward mentally each time the thought comes up until it goes away.
“This office is contaminated. If I touch anything, I’ll get sick.”	Washing hands three times, for a minute each time, whenever you touch or think you’ve touched something.
“What if I forget something important?”	Needing to save every piece of mail, notification, or document, even when they’re out-of-date and no longer have a use.
“Dad will have an accident at work if I don’t tap each foot against the back of each leg 12 times.”	Tapping your foot against your leg for the set number of times, and starting from the beginning if you make a mistake.
“What if I jerk the wheel while I’m driving and intentionally hit another car?”	Slapping your head seven times on each side to dispel the thought each time it pops up, and repeating the ritual to be sure the thought doesn’t come back.
“What if I accidentally touch someone inappropriately?”	Making sure to walk or stay out of arm’s reach of any other person, immediately moving away when you get too close, and frequently asking, “Was that too close? Was that inappropriate?”
“If I forget to confess one of my sins, God will be angry at me. ”	Drafting long lists of all potentially “wrong” or sinful behaviors and making a new confession or praying each time you remember a new one.
“If I look at the clock when it changes from 11:59 to 12:00, the world will end.”	Turning all clocks around, avoiding looking at any clock or phone close to the time, and checking multiple times to make sure the clocks are turned around or hidden, just in case.
“If I don’t step on every third crack, my boyfriend will lose his job.”	Stepping on every third crack, and going back and doing it again just to be certain.
Having an intrusive thought of needing to say a specific word.	Saying the word to everyone you see, even after trying to fight the urge to do so.
Having an intrusive thought of putting your finger into an electric socket.	Covering all outlets with plastic covers and checking each one three times every time the thought comes up.
“What if I have a tumor?”	Visually and physically checking your entire body for lumps multiple times a day to make sure none have appeared.

While we typically think of obsessions and compulsions in the context of OCD, there’s a lesser-known variation of OCD that some refer to as “pure O.” The name comes from the idea that it involves only obsessions.

Experts believe this type generally still involves compulsive rituals, just that these rituals look different from typical compulsive behaviors.

Pure O commonly involves intrusive thoughts and images of:

• hurting yourself or other people
• sexual acts, particularly those you consider wrong, immoral, or harmful to others
• blasphemous or religious thoughts
• unwanted or unpleasant thoughts about romantic partners and other people

You might worry about acting on these thoughts or spend a lot of time worrying they make you a bad person. These thoughts can actually be part of a compulsion. They just aren’t as visible and concrete as the compulsions people usually think of.

It’s also common to spend a lot of time tracing thoughts to understand them and reassure yourself you won’t act on them. You might also pray or repeat specific phrases to cancel out an image or thought.

While the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders acknowledges that people can have obsessions without compulsions and vice versa, pure O isn’t recognized as a formal diagnosis.

Anyone can experience brief mental fixations, obsessive and intrusive thoughts, or unexplainable urges to carry out a specific task or action. In general, obsessions and compulsions only indicate OCD when they:

• take up a significant part of your day
• are unwanted
• negatively affect your personal life and relationships

Feeling a need to clean a lot because you enjoy cleaning and like the look of a tidy house wouldn’t be a sign of OCD, since you take pleasure in the activity and pride in the result.

What could indicate OCD, for example, is fearing your child might develop a serious illness if you don’t have a completely clean and germ-free house. As a result of this persistent worry, you clean several hours each day but still worry you missed something and feel distressed until you start cleaning again.

If you have any OCD symptoms, talking to a mental health professional can help. A therapist can help you identify obsessions and compulsions and begin addressing them to reduce the impact they have on your life.

Physical and mental coercion. Legal commentary

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Physical and mental coercion – free answers of lawyers online

The concept of physical coercion

Physical coercion is an illegal form of influence on a person. Examples include the use of physical force, beatings or other injuries. One of the forms is the introduction into the human body of drugs of various contents.

A sign indicating such an act is forcing a person to commit a certain criminal offense (for example, to give someone else’s property). Coercion is recognized only if a person cannot control his own actions.

Signs indicating that a person is under pressure of physical coercion (established by the current legal norms):

• His actions coincide with signs of criminality;
• There is no concept of will.

The concept of mental coercion

The concept of coercion is understood as any influence on a person that limits his will. The forms of such influence are not limited to physical ones – often criminals choose psychological methods of pressure. These include the use of threats, blackmail, intimidation, etc.

It is important that mental coercion is not capable of completely suppressing the will of a person, therefore, the actions carried out by him are in most cases realized. If criminal acts were committed under mental coercion in a state of extreme necessity, then the issue of criminal liability is removed. If the harm was caused on a general basis, while there is a slight mental coercion, then the person will be held criminally liable.

Mental coercion can be compared with the information impact on a person’s condition. Statistics show that the most common way is the threat of physical violence against close people, for example, family members. The most common types of influence in this case are threat and hypnosis.

The Criminal Code of the Russian Federation establishes several types of psychological coercion, depending on the characteristics taken into account:

• Threats of a certain nature;
• Threats that are uncertain;
• Violent threats that cannot be determined.

Evaluation takes place according to the forms of external manifestation – words or gestures.

Causing harm as a result of physical coercion

If, as a result of physical coercion, harm was caused to the surrounding society or other acts were committed, then their criminality can be excluded in the following cases:

• Under physical coercion, as a result of which the person does not control his own actions independently. In this case, the independent will of the person is excluded, but he cannot act selectively, assessing the current situation. Physical coercion often comes from another person. The criminality of the act and the infliction of harm is excluded due to the absence of such a sign as guilt.
• With types of psychological coercion, as a result of which a person cannot independently control actions. At the same time, the injured person always has a choice – sacrificing himself, his property, loved ones or causing harm to interests that are protected by law.

Attention! The concepts and types of mental and physical coercion are considered as a mitigating measure in determining liability in accordance with the articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

Types of physical coercion

There are two main forms:

• Mechanical impact on the body and body of a person, possibly using various drugs, affecting human organs. This form, as established by the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, includes beating, torture, violence, tying, etc. Such actions are aimed at suppressing the will of another person and changing his behavior to the desired result.
• Deprivation of the opportunity to exercise their right to freedom of movement. Such acts lead to the fact that a person cannot perform the desired or required actions. Considering such a concept, it should be noted that there is no direct effect on the body.

Physical coercion is divided into several types, depending on the act that is committed under it and the harm caused. Thus, the actions that a person is forced to do may not concern his interests. For example, a citizen is forced to sell his own house, which is located in a place where a certain company has decided to build a store. At the same time, the legislator does not exclude liability for the person who forces this.

Irresistible physical coercion

It is customary to distinguish two concepts of physical coercion – insurmountable and insurmountable. The Criminal Code of the Russian Federation establishes that mental coercion is always surmountable. The irresistible nature of the act is present when the will of a person is completely suppressed and he has no other choice but to commit a dangerous crime. In this case, the person is recognized as innocent, and he will not be held responsible for the committed act.

If a person, despite physical coercion, retains the possibility of conscientious behavior, and not causing harm, then it is important to take into account the state of emergency. There is a lot of controversy in the legal literature about this. However, the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation establishes that the harm that was caused in such a situation is an extreme way out. Irresistible physical coercion must be proven to exonerate liability.

Despite the fact that psychological coercion is surmountable, this concept has a variety – hypnosis. Staying in a hypnotic state is an irresistible state, and the hypnotized person is not the subject of a dangerous act, but an instrument for its implementation.

Compulsion to commit a crime

Crime is considered committed under threat if it meets the following conditions established by the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation:

• The threat is real or assumed.
• It was handed over personally to a person who committed a dangerous act under the Criminal Code, or through third parties who can confirm this.
• The threat is directed to a certain person or his relatives, close people.
• Unable to dodge danger.

The concept of coercion also includes an order. At the same time, its performer fears negative consequences for himself.

Physical or mental coercion is most typical for criminal offenses in which harm is caused not to a specific person, but to other citizens, for example, terrorism (Article 205 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) or taking a person hostage (Article 206 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).

It cannot be said that coercion in any case excludes the responsibility of criminality. The legislator, taking into account the norms of law and the suppression of the will of the coerced person, makes a decision.

The concepts of coercion – physical and mental are considered Art. 40 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. When considering such issues, it is necessary to refer to this legislative source. It establishes that coercion is a criminally unlawful influence on a person. Its goals may differ depending on the interests of the perpetrator. The forms of influence differ depending on the illegal methods they use.

Currently, the legislative material on the issues of physical and mental impact, violence continues to be improved and supplemented. Work is underway on it in all directions, which will make it possible to accurately determine the responsibility of a person participating in a dangerous act.

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An urgent question

FORCES – What is FORCES?

The word consists of 11 letters:

first p,

second p,

third and,

fourth n,

fifth y,

sixth,

seventh d,

eighth e,

ninth n,

tenth and

last e,

The word coercion in English letters (transliteration) – prinzhdenie

• The letter and occurs 1 time. Words with 1 letter p
• The letter p occurs 1 time. Words with 1 letter p
• The letter and occurs 2 times. Words with 2 letters and
• The letter and occurs 2 times. Words with 2 letters n
• The letter occurs 1 time in . Words with 1 letter y
• The letter and occurs 1 time. Words with 1 letter g
• The letter e occurs 1 time. Words with 1 letter d
• The letter e occurs 2 times. Words with 2 letters e

Meanings of the word coercion. What is coercion?

Coercion

COERCION – a form of influence characterized by a high level of pressure (constraint) or coercion (compulsion). Coercion can be expressed in a number of modes of circumvention (policies), from economic …

26 basic concepts of political analysis

COERCION The concept of coercion is used in two basic senses: in the meaning of active coercion and in the meaning of situational coercion. (1) In the first case, this term indicates that …

Sociological Dictionary. – 2008

Forced disclosure

Compulsion to be frank is a manipulative technique or, more precisely, a schizophrenogenic situation practiced in many destructive sects, when each new member is forced to tell absolutely everything about his former life without concealment…

vocabulary.ru

Coercion to be frank – a manipulative technique used in sects, when its new member is forced to tell without concealment everything about his former life, about his relatives and friends.

Zhmurov V.A. Large explanatory dictionary of terms in psychiatry

Coercion to testify

FORCED TO GIVE TESTIMONY – crimes against justice under Art. 302 and parts 2-4 of Art. 309Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. These crimes differ mainly in terms of the subject of the crime.

Dictionary-reference book of criminal law. – 2000

Coercion to testify – in the criminal law of the Russian Federation – a crime against justice, which consists in forcing a suspect, accused, victim, witness to testify or an expert to give an opinion by using threats …

glossary.ru

Coercion to testify – according to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (Article 302) – a crime that encroaches on the normal procedure for the administration of justice. It consists in forcing a suspect, accused, victim, witness to testify or an expert …

Large legal dictionary. – M., 2009

COercion to testify – a crime against justice under Art. 302 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Forcing a suspect, accused, victim, witness to testify or an expert to give an opinion, if threats are used …

Dictionary of legal terms. – 2000

COMPULSORY TO GIVE TESTIMONY – in the criminal law of the Russian Federation – a crime against justice, provided for by Art. 302 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. It consists in coercion of the suspect, the accused, the victim …

Dictionary of Economics and Law. – 2005

Least Enforcement Principle

The principle of least constraint, or the Gauss principle, is that at each moment of time the true motion of a system under the action of active forces and subject to ideal constraints differs from all kinematically possible motions…

en. wikipedia.org

Least coercion PRINCIPLE same as (see GAUSS PRINCIPLE). Physical Encyclopedic Dictionary. — M.: Soviet Encyclopedia. Editor-in-Chief A. M. Prokhorov. 1983. Least coercion principle – see Gaussian principle.

Physical Encyclopedia. – 1988

Least constraint principle, same as Gaussian principle.

TSB. — 1969—1978

Administrative coercion

Administrative coercion – as a specific method of protection and protection of the constitutional legal order in force in the country, has a number of distinctive features characteristic of it.

Large legal dictionary. – M., 2009

Administrative coercion is one of the types of state coercion, consisting in the application by specially authorized bodies or their representatives of coercive measures provided for by the norms of administrative law.

Counterintelligence Dictionary. – 1972

ADMINISTRATIVE COercion – coercion applied by the authorities of the state. management directly without going to court. In the USSR, the conditions and procedure for the use of A. p. are strictly regulated by law.

Soviet legal dictionary. – 1953

Non-economic coercion

Non-economic coercion, a form of coercion to work based on relations of personal dependence of workers on exploiters, direct domination and subordination.

TSB. — 1969—1978

NON-ECONOMIC COERCION – a form of coercion to work, basics. on direct relationships. domination and subordination, on the personal dependence of the worker on the exploiter; specific form of societies. relations of people in the process of material production …

Soviet Historical Encyclopedia. – 1973-1982

Physical or mental coercion

Physical or mental coercion is one of the circumstances excluding the criminality of the act. Physical or mental coercion is the unlawful use of violence (physical or mental) against a person …

en.wikipedia.org

Physical or mental coercion – according to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (Article 40) – a circumstance that precludes the criminality of the act. Physical coercion – coercive, i.e. outgoing, physical impact on the human body or its individual organs …

Large legal dictionary. – M., 2009

PHYSICAL OR MENTAL COERCION – under Art. 40 of the Criminal Code is one of the circumstances excluding the criminality of the act. It is not a crime to cause harm to interests protected by criminal law as a result of physical coercion …

Encyclopedia of a lawyer. – 2005

Russian

Coercion, -i.

Spelling dictionary. — 2004

When / in need / eni / e [y / e].

Morphemic spelling dictionary. — 2002

Examples of the use of the word coercion

Coercion in such situations can only sow discord where there was none before.

Zaika clarifies that now there is an actual compulsion by the owners of payment terminals of consumers to make additional advances of funds in excess of the established payments.

Meanwhile, in a personal conversation, activists say that the reason for the cancellation of this train may be forcing citizens to use the Hyundai train so that people have fewer alternatives.