Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

There are many signs and symptoms caused by Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Several of the symptoms include feeling the need to be cleaner or doing specific tasks or actions a distinct number of times. Many people who suffer from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder have strong constant feelings and thoughts that lead to uncontrollable impulses. These impulses cause the person to do things such as regularly and repetitively wash their hands, check their locks, and other trivial actions to try to lessen feelings of anxiety or stress.

People who have been diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder continually feel the need to stay clean. This can include avoiding public objects such as handrails, serving utensils, doorknobs, light switches, elevator buttons, and more. Many who have been diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder are also diagnosed with Mysophobia, more commonly known as germaphobia, or the fear of germs, because of their constant need to wash their hands and avoid germs and dirt.

Another main symptom of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is the need to make objects look straight or perfect. For instance, many people with this disorder are compelled to straighten wall pictures and paintings, or the silverware on a table.

One of the biggest obstacles people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder face on a day to day basis is the constant feeling that they must repeat an action a certain number of times. This could mean needing to knock a certain number of times, take a specific number of paper towels from the dispenser, or washing their hands many times in a row in order to help them relieve stress or anxiety.

People who have been diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder can be put into one or more of five categories based on the things they do, think or believe. The first category, or group, is the Washers. People in this group are obsessed with being clean and washing their hands. These are the people who are usually diagnosed with both Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Mysophobia based on their feeling the need to be clean and their intense fear of germs. Because they are afraid of contaminating themselves with germs, they try to avoid touching public items such as public serving utensils, handrails, door knobs, and cabinet handles.

The second group people can be classified in is the Checkers. These are the people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder who constantly feel the need to double, triple, etc. check things. The things they usually check are things people can usually associate with harm, danger, or risk. Things like whether or not the oven is turned off or the door is locked. They also tend to keep a close eye on their loved ones to constantly make sure they are okay and not in any danger.

The third group is the group most people assume is the only symptom of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder — the Doubters and Sinners. The doubters and sinners feel like if not everything is perfect or just right, then either they will be punished or something terrible will happen. This is why they do things like straightening objects, constantly pick up and organize things, and try to keep things as nice as possible all of the time.

The fourth group is the Counters and Arrangers. The Counters and Arrangers are, as it says in their name, obsessed with counting and arranging. They usually have superstitions about specific numbers, sometimes from a powerful childhood memory, colors, or patterns. The Counters and Arrangers are similar to the Doubters and sinners but the main difference is that the Doubters and Sinners lean more to things needing to be perfect out of fear compared to the Counters and Arrangers needing things to be exact out of superstitious thoughts and beliefs.

The last group, and the counterpart to most of the other groups, are the Hoarders. These are the people that feel like if they get rid of anything, something bad will happen to them. Because of this fear they tend to keep everything, even if there is no use or purpose. The people in this group generally suffer from Kleptomania, compulsive buying, Depression, Attention Deficit Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, skin picking, etc.