OCD is a mental health condition that is made up of intrusive thoughts and the compulsive rituals a person will partake in to try to get rid of these thoughts. These symptoms go on to interfere with every aspect of daily life, from personal relationships to professional responsibilities.
If you want to learn more about the ways OCD affects not just you, but the people around you, keep reading.
The symptoms of OCD
Unsurprisingly, obsessive-compulsive disorder revolves around two main types of symptoms: obsession and compulsion. These symptoms may overlap, or you may in fact only suffer from one of these symptoms at a time. Regardless, the symptoms are greatly debilitating.
MayoClinic has a comprehensive guide of the various signs and symptoms of OCD here. They include:
Obsession Themes
Fear of contamination
Doubting and having difficulty tolerating uncertainty
Needing things orderly and symmetrical
Aggressive or horrific thoughts about losing control and harming yourself or others
Unwanted thoughts, including aggression, or sexual or religious subjects
Obsession Symptoms
Fear of being contaminated by touching objects others have touched
Doubts that you’ve locked the door or turned off the stove
Intense stress when objects aren’t orderly or facing a certain way
Images of driving your car into a crowd of people
Thoughts about shouting obscenities or acting inappropriately in public
Unpleasant sexual images
Avoidance of situations that can trigger obsessions, such as shaking hands
Compulsion Themes
Washing and cleaning
Checking
Counting
Orderliness
Following a strict routine
Demanding reassurance
Compulsion Symptoms
Hand-washing until your skin becomes raw
Checking doors repeatedly to make sure they’re locked
Checking the stove repeatedly to make sure it’s off
Counting in certain patterns
Silently repeating a prayer, word or phrase
Arranging your canned goods to face the same way
How OCD affects relationships
Truth be told, in a lot of different ways. It greatly depends on what kind of relationship is in question.
For instance, in regards to romantic relationships, LuAnn Pierce, licensed clinical social worker had this to say:
Many who have OCD and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) choose not to date and avoid intimate relationships. There are many reasons people resort to this choice; chief among them is the desire to prevent or lessen their anxiety through avoidance of stressful situations.
Owen Kelly, Ph.D., had similar comments regarding familial or friend relationships with OCD:
Depression in people with OCD most often occurs after the onset of OCD symptoms. What this suggests is that the depression may be related to the personal stress of living with OCD or troubles that have developed at home or work as the result of the disease.
At work, the symptoms of OCD can make you avoid certain people or tasks because they trigger your symptoms.
How to live with OCD
Thanks to new treatments, like ketamine infusions, as well as old standards, like psychotherapy, the future of life with OCD looks brighter than it has in decades. To learn more about ketamine infusions for the treatment of OCD, contact us today.
