11 typical obsessions and compulsions in OCD

If you think about obsessive-compulsive disorder maybe the image of the maniac Melvin Udall dodging tiles in Better impossible (As good as it gets).

The great Jack Nicholson appears in the film obsessed with order and neatness, perfectly aligning his slippers from walking around the house, or being unable to go to bed without having locked the four doors several times. These rituals are only a small example of the multiple manias that the novelist presents, his life being articulated around them.

• Related article: "Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): What is it?”

What is obsessive-compulsive disorder?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder, popularly known as OCD for its acronym, is a disorder characterized by obsessive thoughts and compulsive actions such as cleaning, checking, ordering, or hoarding in excess.

Obsessions are thoughts, images, or impulses repetitive and unwanted that cause anxiety and discomfort to people with OCD. Obsessions occur invasively, regardless of the person's will, and become so frequent and disabling that they can completely dominate the life of the sufferer an OCD.

The person who has these obsessive thoughts tries to ignore or suppress them. For this he carries out compulsions or compulsive rituals, which have the objective of neutralizing the obsessions and their dreaded consequences.

Compulsions are like motor or cognitive behaviors (pray, count numbers) repetitive that are performed according to certain rules, in a stereotyped way. The purpose of these behaviors or thoughts is to prevent or reduce distress, or to avoid a feared event or situation.

• Related article: "10 signs and symptoms of people with OCD”

Most frequent obsessions

Among the most common obsessions in OCD we find, among others, those related to dirt and contamination, those of order and those of verification.

1. Pollution ideas

One of the most common types of obsessions are pollution obsessions. These are characterized by a exaggerated fear of dirt, to germs, to get infected or to contract a disease.

Many times the fear in these patients can be to feel dirty, and they can spend a great deal of time washing. These ideas can be centered on another person as well, such as fearing that a loved one will become ill or will die from an infection or germs.

• Related article: "Cleaning obsession: causes, characteristics and tips”

2. Need for verification or pathological doubt

The obsession of these individuals consists of constantly check that they have not had an oversight to hold them responsible for the dreaded negative consequences, for example starting a fire by forgetting to turn off the stove, leaving the tap running, or not locking the key when leaving the house.

Excessive doubt and the need to check commonly lead to checking rituals.

3. Need for order or symmetry

In this case the concern is arrange or order things "perfectly", perform certain activities in an exact, symmetrical or balanced way, such as parking correctly or ordering clothes meticulously.

The thought that is at the base of the obsessive idea is: "It is absolutely essential that everything is ordered and in its place."

4. Aggressive and sexual obsessions

These individuals present excessive fear of harm others or committing an unacceptable sexual act such as thinking that they might stab a loved one, fantasizing about sexually abusing someone, or an exaggerated fear of being gay.

Many are horrified by their obsessions and do not comment on them out of shame, mistakenly believing that thinking something reprehensible is equivalent to doing it.

5. Religious obsessions

The excessive fear in this case is based on commit sins, blaspheme, not praying enough, fear of going to hell or not being forgiven, etc. The behaviors or compulsions they perform to eliminate their anxiety may be to pray repeatedly or go to church numerous times.

More frequent compulsions or rituals

Below we describe the rituals most commonly described in cases of OCD. Many of these types of compulsion are directly related to the obsessions described above.

1. Cleaning

Washing is the most frequent compulsion associated with the obsession of pollution. People with these types of compulsions may wipe their hands too often, just like Melvin did. Udall, who washed his hands three times in a row every time he came home and used different new soaps that later pulled.

Other examples are: brushing your teeth excessively, avoiding using public toilets or doing a thorough cleaning of the home for fear of germs. This behavior typically occurs after contact or proximity to the contaminated object.

2. Of order or symmetry

The ritual seeks to alleviate a fear that if something is not done, a misfortune will occur, or mitigate the unpleasant feeling that things are not as they should be. These compulsive actions are derived from the need for symmetry or order.

Some examples would be avoiding stepping on black tiles, ordering things according to certain predetermined criteria, etc.

3. Repeating

Individuals are characterized by insistently repeating phrases or behaviors, out of the belief that this will prevent the dreaded catastrophe from occurring. They may want to always follow certain routines, such as always eating at the same table in the same cafeteria, or always going to work the same way.

4. Accumulation

In this type of OCD the person has the need to save all kinds of items attending to its possible utility in the future. They can accumulate a lot of unnecessary things like old newspapers, empty bottles or cardboard boxes.

5. Checkout

They focus on prevent the occurrence of possible catastrophes. They are associated with pathological doubt and the need for verification.

In general, those who perform these rituals tend to use the reinsurance strategy, asking people close to him questions like "Have you seen me put out the fire?" or "Have I closed the door From home?".

6. Mental compulsions

They are thoughts or mental acts that, like observable behaviors, are performed to neutralize or reduce the anxiety caused by the obsession. It is common repeat words, phrases, or numbers in order to ease distress.

Mental compulsions are frequently confused with obsessions because they are covert rather than motor behaviors; the fundamental difference is that obsessions generate anxiety and compulsions reduce or prevent it.

Bibliographic references:

• American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5).