Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) causes a substantial deal of anxiety and discomfort in an individual as a result of unwanted and worrying thoughts, and/or images or urges (obsessions). The individual going through this will then engage in repetitive behaviours or mental acts (compulsions) as an attempt to reduce the distress caused. Oftentimes, compulsions are performed in a distinct and ritualistic way for periods of time.
OCD is a mental health anxiety issue that is experienced by thousands of people all over the world. This common health problem may cause the individual to feel some or all of the following OCD symptoms; anxiety, depression, isolation and hopelessness. These symptoms are generally triggered by a continuous loop of obsessions, and compulsions that interfere with daily life.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) involves unwanted and disturbing thoughts, images or urges (obsessions) that cause a great deal of anxiety and discomfort, which the individual then tries to reduce by engaging in repetitive behaviours or mental acts. (compulsions). Often, compulsions are performed in a ritualistic, or very specific way for periods of time.
People with OCD act on compulsions in order to relieve the anxiety feelings and discomfort associated with the Obsessions.
The triggering thought/image/Urge (Obsessions) results in intense feelings of Anxiety, which leads the Individual to act compulsively (Rituals) in an effort to relieve that distress.
This only provides temporary relief and actually “reinforces” the compulsive behavior, for the simple reason that we are naturally more likely to repeat any behavior that results in a reduction of anxiety thus leading you to do more compulsions the next time the anxiety appears.