OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER (OCD)

Sometimes, certain individuals can never quite feel certain whether they have completed a task or if they did it correctly. They may constantly doubt whether they checked the door, worry that something terrible will happen if they do not wash their hands thoroughly enough, or fear that an inappropriate word might slip out of their mouth unintentionally. In psychology, these distressing, intrusive, and unpreventable thoughts that enter a person's mind against their will are called "obsessions." Obsessions feel alien and deeply unsettling to the individual. These intrusions can occupy the mind as abstract thoughts or as vivid mental images, and in daily life, they are most commonly referred to as "obsessions" or "fixations" (takıntı).

To cope with these thoughts and rid themselves of the resulting distress, the individual begins to seek solutions. These solutions may manifest as specific actions or mental routines, such as repeatedly checking whether the stove was left on, or repeating everything three times in their mind. In psychology, all of these coping mechanisms that a person resorts to are called "compulsions." Even if these actions seem completely irrational to the individual, they feel utterly powerless to stop doing them.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a psychological condition characterized by the presence of these obsessions and/or compulsions. OCD generates an immense amount of anxiety and negatively impacts a person's daily life. It is generally a chronic condition, though it can occasionally exhibit periodic flare-ups.

Although OCD typically begins during adolescence or young adulthood (ages 18–25), it can also be observed in children. Research indicates that the general prevalence rate of OCD is between 2% and 3%.

Not every obsessive thought or repetitive behavior means that a person has obsessive-compulsive disorder. Feeling uncertain about certain things, checking them a few times, being orderly, or being meticulous are traits that anyone can experience. However, we can only speak of OCD when these thoughts and behaviors become so severe and intense that they impair and restrict a person's daily functionality. For example, leaving the house and walking down to the apartment door, only to feel uncertain about whether you unplugged the iron and going back to check, is something anyone might do. However, doing this constantly, checking dozens of times, and consequently running late for your destination may be a sign of OCD.

Common Obsessions

1. Fear of Contamination or Dirt

An excessive mental preoccupation with objects or situations feared to cause illness or provoke disgust, such as germs, sweat, or urine. In such cases, compulsions like excessive washing or trying to completely sanitize every individual living in the household typically emerge.

2. Need for Symmetry/Exactness

The rigid belief that everything must be kept in a perfect, precise order. This mindset usually leads to compulsions such as arranging household items perfectly symmetrically or creating meticulous categories.

3. Inability to Attain Certainty (Doubt)

A state of deep preoccupation and inability to feel certain about whether a task was completed correctly or fully. This lingering doubt often manifests as compulsions like checking the stove over and over again.

4. Fear of Harming Oneself or Others

An intense preoccupation with thoughts of losing control and inadvertently harming oneself or loved ones. Consequently, compulsions like staying away from sharp objects or avoiding holding one's own child can develop.

5. Sexual Intrusions

Experiencing extreme anxiety due to unwanted sexual thoughts or mental imagery. This can give rise to compulsions such as avoiding sexual intimacy altogether or actively avoiding looking at the opposite sex.

6. Religious Intrusions

An intense preoccupation and severe anxiety surrounding religious concepts. Thoughts often revolve around an overwhelming fear of being sinful. Such thoughts typically result in compulsions like performing ablution (ritual washing) repeatedly or constantly reciting the Basmala (bismillah).

Note: It can sometimes be difficult to distinguish whether certain thoughts and behaviors are definitive symptoms of OCD. However, in light of the information provided above, if you believe you may be experiencing OCD, it is highly beneficial to consult a psychologist or psychiatrist specializing in this field.

References

Davison, G. C. & Neale, J. M. (2004). Abnormal Psychology. (7th ed.). (İ. Dağ, Trans. Ed.). Ankara: Turkish Psychological Association Publications.

Öztürk, M. O. & Uluşahin, A. (2014). Mental Health and Disorders I. (12th ed.). Ankara: BAYT Publications.