Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients get trapped in cycles of compulsions and obsessions.  An obsession consists of intense and distressing feelings that are triggered by images, thoughts, or urges.   A compulsion occurs when the patient tries to decrease the distress by using a particular behavior or set of behaviors.  A diagnosis of OCD only occurs in situations where extreme obsessions and compulsions interfere with normal activities.  

Obsessive thoughts, images, or impulses are disturbing and occur repeatedly, beyond the patient’s control.  Even though the patient knows that the thoughts do not make sense, but they make the patient feel fear, doubt, or disgust.  Many OCD patients feel the need for certain activities to be done in just a certain way to be right or a certain thing needs to be done repeatedly to make sure it was done right.  

The accompanying symptom of OCD is the compulsion, which is a repetitive thought or behavior used to relieve the stress or discomfort of the obsessive thoughts.  A compulsion is only a temporary solution but the only thing that an OCD patient can use to make the obsession go away.  Compulsions are time-consuming and interfere with the positive and functional aspects of daily life.  

If you are struggling with OCD, Mara Fiorentino, M.D., can help you.