You may have heard someone claim ‘I’ve got OCD’ when referring to their cleanliness and orderliness – but what exactly does that mean and do they actually have the condition?
Dr Carmen Harra, American author of Committed: Finding Love and Loyalty Through the Seven Archetypes, has explained what obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is, what causes it, the signs to look out for and when to seek help.
She told FEMAIL: ‘Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a mental health disorder characterised by unreasonable thoughts and fears that lead to compulsive, repetitive behaviours.
‘It usually onsets gradually but becomes chronic and can affect people of all backgrounds and ages. The severity to which OCD extends depends on the individual and progression of the disorder.
‘It’s important to understand that not all recurring thoughts and actions are considered obsessive or compulsive. We all have idiosyncrasies, such as liking things to be arranged in a particular order or regarding certain numbers as indicators of good fortune.
You may have heard someone claim ‘I’ve got OCD’ when referring to their cleanliness and orderliness – but what exactly does that mean and do they actually have the condition? (stock photo)
‘A person must meet specific criteria in order to be diagnosed with OCD, and this can only be evaluated by a medical professional,’ she insisted.
But if you’d like to learn the potential signs of OCD and wonder whether the condition could perhaps be causing your stressful or intrusive thoughts, why not answer the questions below.
Following the quiz, Dr Carmen reflects on what the answers could mean.
1. Do you avoid some colours, names, or numbers because you deem them ‘unlucky’ or associate them with something bad?
A. No, I never have.
B. No, but I have.
C. Yes, sometimes.
D. Yes, often.
2. When you have a doubt or concern about something, what do you usually do to help yourself feel better?
A. Put it out of my mind and not think about it.
B. Discuss it with a person and/or try to resolve the situation.
C. Think about or analyze it for a long time, but eventually get over it.
D. Allow it to consume me and clean, hoard, or repeat words to ameliorate how I feel.
3. How often do you experience thoughts that are unreasonable and make you feel uncomfortable in your own mind? (Examples include suddenly imagining that you hit someone with your car or that a family member just had an accident.)
A. Never.
B. Infrequently.
C. Sometimes.
D. Frequently (several times a day).
4. Rate how strongly this statement resonates with you: ‘I have thoughts about aggression and/or hurting others that worry me and that I don’t want to have.’
A. I don’t resonate with it at all.
B. I don’t really resonate with it.
C. I somewhat resonate with it.
D. I strongly resonate with it.
5. Complete this statement: When an intrusive thought enters my mind, I…
A. Have no trouble putting it aside and thinking about other things.
B. Think about it for a little while, then move on to other thoughts.
C. Dwell on it for a long time, then slowly get over it.
D. Become stuck on it and think of nothing else for weeks, months, or years.
6. How often do you double and triple check that you completed an everyday task, such as locking the front door or turning off the oven?
A. Never.
B. Infrequently.
C. Sometimes.
D. Frequently (several times a day).
7. Which of the following statements best describes your attitude toward cleanliness?
A. I think I could do a better job of keeping my home clean and organized; I’m a bit messy.
B. I think I’m average in terms of how much I clean and organize my home; I don’t clean more than other people.
C. I think I keep my home super clean and organized; I clean more than the average person.
D. I lose sleep if my home isn’t immaculate; I can’t stand dust or objects out of order.
8. How much does it bother you when your hands are dirty?
A. Not at all; I don’t even notice it but I probably should.
B. Somewhat; I wash my hands a couple times a day, especially after being outside.
C. A lot; I need to wash my hands often or I feel disgusted.
D. ‘Bother’ doesn’t describe it; I have to wash my hands after touching almost anything.
9. Let’s say you’re arranging a party in your home. What do you do to prepare?
A. Invite guests and tell them to bring whatever they want.
B. Order food and drinks for the partygoers.
C. Clean the house, make food, buy drinks, and decorate.
D. Make sure the house is spotless, the presentation is flawless, and everything is in perfect order.
10. Does it bring you comfort or reduce your anxiety to repeat certain activities, such as counting numbers in your mind, going up and down the stairs, or turning the lights on and off a specific number of times?
A. This doesn’t apply to me.
B. I doesn’t really bring comfort or reduce anxiety; I rarely do these things.
C. It does bring comfort or reduce anxiety; I often do these things.
D. It’s the only thing that brings comfort or reduces anxiety; if I don’t do these things, I feel something bad might happen.
11. How often do you seek reassurance from others for whether you performed a task correctly or the right way?
A. Never.
B. Infrequently.
C. Sometimes.
D. Frequently (several times a day).
12. Do numbers and/or the time strictly dictate your lifestyle, such as ‘I can have exactly four bites of this cake’ or ‘I have to be in bed at 10:59pm?’
A. No, they never have.
B. No, but they have.
C. Yes, sometimes.
D. Yes, often.
***
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