How do you diagnose OCD? Are there different degrees? If so, what are they?

Question

I've got a school assignment and we're supposed to choose a disorder and describe it. The assignment says to tell what diagnosis you have. I picked OCD, so would I say I have a severe case or a mild case of OCD? Something like that?

Answer 1

Borrow a copy of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV (the symptoms and required length of occurrence are explicitly stated) at your library, or check the description of the symptoms in an Abnormal Psychology book. Obsessive compulsive disorder, in general, consists of excessive, recurring obsessions (persistent thought patterns) and compulsions (acts that a person feels he/she must perform) that cause significant anxiety in the person.

Chances are, your issues do not qualify as a full-blown "disorder." In general, a mental disorder should cause significant personal distress, impairment, and/or dysfunction. Disorders are also considered "rare" (statistically infrequent). You can only say that your experiences resemble the symptoms described. Diagnosing yourself with a disorder is a psychologist or psychiatrist's job.

Answer 2

Autism is a spectrum disorder which covers Asperger syndrome and a lot of other related conditions. At the moment it is considered that OCD may well be part of this spectrum so it would be possible to have both. A lot of people who have Aperger syndrome like routine and also like everything to stay the same and in the same place. This involves lots of checking and making sure of things. My daughter has Asperger syndrome and has to have every thing in the same place and she can throw nothing away as it is hers and may have a use later on. I don't think you have OCD but you do fit the description of AS as you seem to get anxious about things. You could do with seeing a good clinical psychologist to discuss these issues and how best to deal with them. Good luck.

Answer 3

Who's to say your case of OCD is any worse than my case of OCD? No-one medically. If you call washing your hands 10 times a day, opposed to back tracking every step you made every day is worse, than OK. Each person has a different impulse. It could be something others don't even notice, to where everyone who see's you-will stare. Some people are totally consumed with their compulsion, while others only have it at bedtime. They do have med's for the mental illness, but I do know people who still are very obsessive. If you were to ask six people with OCD, they would all say, they have it BAD!!