Obsessive-compulsive disorder, commonly known as OCD for short, has become widely known in many societies today. However, the signs and symptoms of this common mental health condition are often misunderstood, which can cause people struggling with OCD to feel unheard, isolated, and judged. While many people may interpret obsessive-compulsive disorder as a condition that causes others to become obsessed with cleaning or tidying up, the signs and symptoms are more complex than that.
Here are some of the common signs someone might be living with OCD in Clearwater.
Obsessions Become a Distraction
Some people might spend hours focusing on specific tasks or activities and enjoy every minute of it. By comparison, someone with OCD will rarely, if ever, get any pleasure from their obsession with certain activities or tasks. Instead of experiencing joy after fully cleaning their homes, people with OCD are likely to feel frustrated. They may feel like their efforts are never enough or that there will never be enough time to focus on these specific issues. When obsessions – whether physical activities or time-consuming thoughts about a specific subject – become a distraction and interfere with your daily life, this can be a sign that you may be experiencing obsessive-compulsive disorder.
You Feel Out of Control
It’s common to have thoughts or feelings that enter our minds and then leave. However, when these thoughts and feelings linger, it can be a common sign of obsessive-compulsive disorder. This may include thoughts about violence or causing harm to other people, and it may be very difficult for someone with OCD to get these thoughts out of their head for days, sometimes even weeks or months.
A person with OCD may feel out of control about the number of times they need to check something, for example, or how often they feel the need to clean the kitchen. When leaving the house, you might check to see that you’ve locked the door ten times but still feel like it’s not been checked enough.
Vocal Repetitions
Some people with obsessive-compulsive disorder may also display vocal signs and symptoms of this condition. For example, some people may feel the need to count the seconds throughout the day or keep track of how many minutes they have been standing in a line. They may often clear their throat or make grunting or coughing noises. These common signs of OCD can also impact other physical movements, such as the shrugging of the shoulders or constant twitching or blinking.
Feelings of Irritability and Frustration
For someone with obsessive-compulsive disorder, feelings of irritability and frustration can surface often. This could be caused by external factors in your environment, such as an item being out of place or too much noise happening in your neighborhood. A person with OCD may also feel frustrated if other people are late or not behaving in a certain way. They may feel irritated and annoyed about the layout of other people’s homes or the arrangement of cabinets and shelves in shops or other buildings. People with obsessive-compulsive disorder are also likely to be fearful of germs, so they may avoid certain settings and situations because of this. For example, they may stay away from shopping centers, hospitals, and schools.
Getting Help with OCD
If you or someone you know is experiencing signs and symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder, it’s essential to seek a suitable form of OCD treatment. This could be in the form of therapy specifically designed for people with OCD. You can work with mental health services like TMS Advantage Clearwater and look at support groups for OCD treatment in your area.
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