Obsessive compulsive disorder

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goodtoknow says: Obsessive compulsive disorder, OCD, is a distressing but very common problem. If you keep thinking about things over and over, not just general worries, but maybe that your hands aren't clean enough or that your kids may be in danger, your worries may be becoming obsessions. OCD is a mental health condition, but there's lots of help available. The first step is to recognise that you have a problem. If your family keep telling you to stop worrying, listen to them. See your doctor who can recommend talking therapy that can really help, as can antidepressants.

For a full medical explanation of the causes, symptoms and treatments of obsessive compulsive disorder from patient.co.uk, read on.

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common mental health problem. Symptoms typically include recurring obsessive thoughts, and repetitive compulsions in response to the obsession. A common example is recurring obsessive thoughts about germs and dirt, with a compulsion to repeatedly wash your hands to "clean off the germs". However, there are many other examples. The usual treatments are cognitive behaviour therapy, an SSRI antidepressant medicine, or both. Treatment often works well to greatly reduce the symptoms and distress of OCD.