How do you get diagnosed as having Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?

Question

All my life I have had strange little rituals and practices. But I've never been sure whether I'm just ones of those people with little peculiarities or whether i've got a light form of OCD.

*When I eat I always eat one item of food at a time. For example if I'm having fish n' chips I will eat the chips and then the fish. I will never cross over.

*I have a large DVD collection which is all in chronological order of when the movies were made. Whenever I've bought a movie I have to memorise the date it was made and the director. As I result I know dates and directors of movies without having to look it up.

When I am practicing football/soccer I have often given myself tasks of hitting the bar from 18 yards, saying to myself I can't stop until i've done it. I once tried this for an hour before doing it.

If I do have it then I have it lightly. I'm not like these poor souls who have to wash their handS 60 times a day

But what is the correct procedure for getting tested/diagnosed?

Its not a problem, I don't think it's the end of the world or that i'll die if a routine of mine isn't carried out, like severe sufferers do. But it will cause me extreme annoyance and a loss of temper.

Again I certainly have quirks, but I don't know whether its just me being a person with superstitions, or if i have a light condition.i'm 23 by the way.

Answer 1

"To be diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, one must have either obsessions or compulsions alone, or obsessions and compulsions, according to the DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria. The Quick Reference to the diagnostic criteria from DSM-IV-TR (2000) describes these obsessions and compulsions:[2]

Obsessions are defined by:

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.
The thoughts, impulses, or images are not simply excessive worries about real-life problems.
The person attempts to ignore or suppress such thoughts, impulses, or images, or to neutralize them with some other thought or action.
The person recognizes that the obsessional thoughts, impulses, or images are a product of his or her own mind, and are not based in reality.
The tendency to haggle over small details that the viewer is unable to fix or change in any way. This begins a mental pre-occupation with that which is inevitable.
Compulsions are defined by:

Repetitive behaviors or mental acts that the person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession, or according to rules that must be applied rigidly.
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.
In addition to these criteria, at some point during the course of the disorder, the sufferer must realize that his/her obsessions or compulsions are unreasonable or excessive. Moreover, the obsessions or compulsions must be time-consuming (taking up more than one hour per day), cause distress, or cause impairment in social, occupational, or school functioning.[2] OCD often causes feelings similar to those of depression."

That's all out of Wikipedia, but in my opinion, you should really go make an appointment with a psychologist, or possibly even one that specializes in treating and diagnosing obsessive compulsive disorders, to see if you really have one. From what you have said, though, it does sound like you have a light one, although you may just be a very driven person who is ambitious (hence the practicing until you achieve your goal) and you may like to stay organized (thus you like to organize your DVD's and might like to memorize little tidbits of knowledge like the dates/directors). I do the 'one item at a time of food' too, so who knows? I might share that OCD with you, XD. Anyways, don't work yourself too much over it unless all of your OCD's take over your life and you cannot go on without doing them.

But before you seek a professional for help ... Try to break past these habits that you've formed over the years yourself. If you are able to, then obviously, there's no problem, and they're just things that you PREFER to do rather than having to do them in order to go on with life. So really, try to buy a movie without memorizing the director today or tomorrow. Good luck!

Answer 2

I think you would need to see our Doctor and maybe he would refer you to a philologist or something. I have anxiety, depression and mild OCD. My Doctor referred me to someone else who diagnosed my problem.

Are your rituals and practises bothering you? Are they interfering with your everyday life? Maybe you could talk to your Doctor about seeing a therapist or find a therapist your self. I been using an alternative therapy for my anxiety and depression called Emotional Freedom Technique and it has really helped me lot. I have also used it on my OCD and it has reduced it. I have started feeling a lot better since using EFT. It does sound crazy but does work. It's very good at getting rid of negative emotions and dealing with all kinds issues quickly. Might be something that can help you. These are some links about it. If you type Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in the search of the first website you should get some articles about EFT being used on OCD.

Answer 3

A compulsion is an act done to get rid of an obsession. For example, "hitting the bar from 18 yds" would be an obsession and not stopping until you've done it would be a compulsion.

Are you a perfectionists? are you concerned about control?
How long have you been performing rituals like these? Does it interfere with your daily functioning? You appear to have OCD traits. If they become too bothersome, you might want to seek professional help.

23? It could be OCD personality traits instead of OCD itself.

Answer 4

if you have any of the following:

Obsessions as defined by:

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. 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


you may have OCD but yours doesnt really look like that just a really organized person!

Answer 5

I won't tell you to see a professional, but people that have OCD think they don't need help or that they will lose some of the symptoms if they are on meds. (therefore, you lose control) You have done ABSOLUTELY nothing wrong! This is not a situation that you brought upon yourself. Did all this start before or after you hit your head? I don't wan't to alarm you,but there are many other things that could be going on other than a mental problem...Plz keep in touch! Good Luck on making the right decisions for yourself...whatever feels right is what you need to do. Don't feel guilty or that you have done ANYTHING bad! Again, you haven't.....TTYL Lorbe

Answer 6

Honestly I don't think OCD is something that needs a curing unless you get suicidal or homicidal or something outrageous like that... I think it's just a few quirks or small petpeeves that people have... I'm just like you... I have a few and it will annoy me if I don't do it but it would not make me lash out and kill someone... For instance... I'm afraid of lightening so after every 3 times of rumbling I know lightening will come so I hurry up and remove my earings.. That's a fear based one... And another is I have to wash my hands once with regular soap and water and then with hand sanitizer... Honestly... I don't think it's anything to worry about...

Answer 7

I'd ask my doctor. Many times, you have to be referred to a specialist for things like that. I think you may be right in saying that you have a mild form of it...but you may just be a perfectionist, or you may JUST have a little obcessive without the compulsive disorder. It can't hurt to check.

Answer 8

If it doesn't interfere with your happiness or hurting anyone, don't worry about getting "diagnosed". If you really think you want to, you would see a psychiatrist. They in turn can prescribe medication for you if you decide you need treatment. But, like you say, it is only mild, so why waste the time and money?

Answer 9

I eat my food one dish at a time, but never occured to me it was different until I worked in a nursing home and feeding patients The charge nurse said to feed them a bite of this, then a bite of that. I thought, how silly!...I believe everyone has quirks, so maybe we're all a tad OCD. Sounds like you are articulate. That's not a bad thing to be. And you set goals for yourself...hmm..You sound quite normal...

Answer 10

you need to relax. It's not a disorder unless it's a problem...you have to ask yourself - are these rituals getting in the way of things and making me unhappy rather enslaved? from the sound of it - you seem to be organized in your life and sometimes quirky which everybody is in different fields and different platforms...I believe with the awareness of today's science to everybody, we over analyze...be happy you have a good memory and organized...many people take pills for that...

I think you're normal...and if it's really preoccupying your thoughts then see someone professionally