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OCD stands for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and is a common term used to describe people who are very orderly or like things to be very neat and clean. However, the actual condition can affect those suffering from it in a very real way. OCD does not occur overnight and symptoms can start small and build up over time. In the beginning, it may seem like routine behaviors until it becomes or feels unmanageable. OCD symptoms include obsessive thoughts and compulsions and are highly correlated to anxiety and depression.

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Many OCD sufferers are well aware that their obsessions and compulsions are not fully rational but are unable to control them. They describe the feelings as physically distressing and feel the need to carry out different routines / behaviors that are not limited to checking, counting, cleaning etc, to gain some relief from the anxiety.  These routines / behaviors can cause interruptions in an individual’s daily life.

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Many times, the symptoms are triggered by a personal crisis, traumatic events or other negative situations; and stress makes it worse. If you suffer from OCD, you are not alone as OCD is very common. BeyondOCD.org reports that “OCD is a disorder that has a neurobiological basis and it equally affects men, women and children of all races, ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds”.

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However, OCD sufferers frequently do not seek treatment, not knowing that their condition is caused by a neurobiological issue. Similarly to other physical conditions like asthma, OCD sufferers can learn to manage their condition. Applicable treatment methods help neurological changes by weakening existing pathways and strengthening new ones permitting it to function more normally. Therefore, seeking treatment is essential in managing OCD symptoms and no one should be trying to endure the condition alone.