OCD..do i have it?

Question

In high school some lady said i had OCD i never went to a psychiatrist to check it out because i only found out a few months back...

here are my symptoms...

1. i'll say a word then repeat it a few times under my breath

2. when i go out i almost always change my clothes a few times and i look at myself in the mirror..sometimes 20-30 times to see if i look good enough to go outside or something its kind of weird

3. whenever i write some like this question or an sms i redo it like 3-4 times if i think it doesnt look good
i've redone this twice now...

4.i've noticed i say sorry ALOT!

5. whenever i get invited out i make up something to get out of it.. because i think something bad will happen...

tell me if you think i do have it..?

Answer 1

It's possible, but I've heard that everyone has OCD to a certain extent. Some to a much higher degree than others. Ask a doctor. You seem to have "rituals" that you follow to a t in certain situations and that is a sympton of OCD.

Answer 2

Symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder

Obsessions

These are unwanted ideas or impulses that repeatedly well up in the mind of the person with OCD. Persistent fears that harm may come to self or a loved one, an unreasonable concern with becoming contaminated, or an excessive need to do things correctly or perfectly, are common. Again and again, the individual experiences a disturbing thought, such as, "My hands may be contaminated—I must wash them"; "I may have left the gas on"; or "I am going to injure my child." These thoughts are intrusive, unpleasant, and produce a high degree of anxiety. Sometimes the obsessions are of a violent or a sexual nature, or concern illness.

Compulsions

In response to their obsessions, most people with OCD resort to repetitive behaviors called compulsions. The most common of these are washing and checking. Other compulsive behaviors include counting (often while performing another compulsive action such as hand washing), repeating, hoarding, and endlessly rearranging objects in an effort to keep them in precise alignment with each other. Mental problems, such as mentally repeating phrases, list making or checking are also common. These behaviors generally are intended to ward off harm to the person with OCD or others. Some people with OCD have regimented rituals while others have rituals that change. Performing rituals may give the person with OCD some relief from anxiety, but it is only temporary.

People with OCD show a range of insight into the senselessness of their obsessions. Often, especially when they are not actually having an obsession, they can recognize that their obsessions and compulsions are unrealistic. At other times they may be unsure about their fears or even believe strongly in their validity.

Most people with OCD struggle to banish their unwanted, obsessive thoughts and to prevent themselves from engaging in compulsive behaviors. Many are able to keep their obsessive-compulsive symptoms under control during the hours when they are at work or attending school. But over the months or years, resistance may weaken, and when this happens, OCD may become so severe that time-consuming rituals take over the sufferers' lives, making it impossible for them to continue activities outside the home.

OCD sufferers often attempt to hide their disorder rather than seek help. Often they are successful in concealing their obsessive-compulsive symptoms from friends and coworkers. An unfortunate consequence of this secrecy is that people with OCD usually do not receive professional help until years after the onset of their disease. By that time, they may have learned to work their lives—and family members' lives—around the rituals.

OCD tends to last for years, even decades. The symptoms may become less severe from time to time, and there may be long intervals when the symptoms are mild, but for most individuals with OCD, the symptoms are chronic.

Answer 3

I have OCD and I do a lot of the same things, like 1,2, and 5. Many people mistake OCD as a specific obsession with something or just the tendency to be obsessive- that is only one half of the components of OCD. The second is compulsiveness, which causes us to resolve our "obsessions" or worries in sometimes irrational ways, or in consistent "rituals". If you feel that things that worry or bother you are keeping you from being comfortable/doing everyday tasks, you should see a psychologist; there's no harm in it.

Answer 4

Diagnostic Criteria for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

A. Either obsessions or compulsions:

Obsessions as defined by (1), (2), (3) and (4):

1) Recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses, or images that are experienced, at some time during the disturbance, as intrusive and inappropriate and that cause marked anxiety or distress

2) The thoughts, impulses or images are not simply excessive worries about real-life problems

3) The person attempts to ignore or suppress such thoughts, impulses, or images, or to neutralize them with some other thought or action

4) The person recognizes that the obsessional thoughts, impulses or images are a product of his or her own mind (not imposed from without as in thought insertion)


Compulsions as defined by (1) and (2):

(1) Repetitive behaviors (e.g., hand washing, ordering, checking) or mental acts (e.g., praying, counting, repeating words silently) that the person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession, or
according to rules that must be applied rigidly

(2) The behaviors or mental acts are aimed at preventing or reducing distress or preventing some dreaded event or situation; however, these behaviors or mental acts either are not connected in a realistic way with what they are designed to neutralize or prevent or are clearly excessive

B. At some point during the course of the disorder, the person has recognized that the obsessions or compulsions are excessive or unreasonable. Note: this does not apply to children.

C. The obsessions or compulsions cause marked distress, are time consuming (take more than one hour a day), or significantly interfere with the person's normal routine, occupational (or academic) functioning, or usual social activities or relationships.

D. If another Axis I disorder is present, the content of the obsessions or compulsions is not restricted to it (e.g., preoccupation with food in the presence of an eating disorder; hair pulling in the presence of trichotillomania; concern with appearance in the presence of body dysmorphic disorder; preoccupation with drugs in the presence of a substance use disorder; preoccupation with having a serious illness in the presence of hypochondriasis; preoccupation with sexual urges or fantasies in the presence of a paraphilia; or guilty ruminations in the presence of major depressive disorder).

E. The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition.


Specify if:
With poor insight: if, for most of the time during the current episode, the person does not recognize that the obsessions and compulsions are excessive or unreasonable

Answer 5

Well, are these thoughts interfering with your functioning?
Do you feel that if you don't complete them, then something really bad will happen?
Do you get irritated when someone interrupts you as you're doing your "rituals?"
If these are just bad habits that you know you have the ability to stop, then no. Again, if your habits don't interfere and take over your life, then it's not a problem. Just take your mind off it if you can and think positively. good luck and peace!

Answer 6

The first one sounds a little strange but the rest sound like you have a very low self esteem and a lack of confidence about yourself.

Answer 7

I have OCD and judging by your symptoms I think you have it too. OCD is common and treatable. Talk to your Dr. about it.