Signs of OCD

The signs of OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) that are common to adults are also common to children and teenagers.

Obsessions and Fears about Dirt and Contamination

Unfounded fears of contracting a dreadful illness
Excessive concerns about dirt and germs
Feelings of revulsion about bodily waste and secretions
Obsessions about one's body (looking for signs of illness or disease)
Abnormal concerns about sticky substances or residues
Excessive, ritualized hand-washing, showering, bathing, or tooth-brushing
The unshakable feeling that household items, such as dishes, are contaminated and cannot be washed enough to be "really clean"

Need for Order or Symmetry

An overwhelming need to align objects "just so"
Excessive concerns about the neatness of one's personal appearance or one's environment
The need to repeat doing something until one gets it "just right"
Excessive list making and extreme organization

Hoarding or Saving Obsessions

Inspecting household trash in case some "valuable" item has been thrown out
Accumulating useless objects such as trash or items rescued from trash cans
The inability to discard anything because "you might need it later on"

Obsessions with Sexual Content

Unwanted sexual thoughts that one views as inappropriate and unacceptable
Fear of molesting a child (fear of doing something you have no desire to do)
Fears that one may be homosexual

Repetitive Rituals

Repeating routine activities for no good reason
Repeating questions over and over
Rewording or rewriting words or phrases

Religious Obsessions and Compulsions

Troublesome blasphemous or sacrilegious thoughts
Excessive concerns about morality and right or wrong

Obsessions with Aggressive Content

The fear of having caused some fatal tragedy
Repeated intruding images of violence
The fear of acting out a violent thought
The irrational fear of having hurt someone

Obsessions with Food and Weight

Preoccupation with foods or food measurements
Rituals involving food
Irrational fears that some foods are bad or must be avoided
Being overly concerned about one's weight

Superstitious Fears

The belief that certain numbers are "lucky" or "unlucky"
Behaviors based on superstitious beliefs

Checking Compulsions

Repeatedly checking to see if a door is locked or an appliance is turned off
Checking to make certain one has not harmed someone
Checking and rechecking for mistakes (homework, balancing a checkbook, etc.)
Excessive Doubt - Asking over and over for reassurance or checking and then checking again.

Other Common Compulsions

Pathological slowness in carrying out even the most routine activities
Blinking or staring rituals
A feeling of dread if some arbitrary act is not performed
The compulsive need to be verbal with someone else
The need to touch, tap or rub certain objects repeatedly
Counting compulsions
Mental rituals, such as reciting silent prayers, repeating certain phrases in a effort to make a bad thought go away

Source: Adapted from Brain Lock, Twentieth Anniversary Edition: Free Yourself from Obsessive-Compulsive Behavior by Dr. Jeffrey Schwartz, Regan Books, 1996, pp. xvii

Recognize yourself or your loved one?

If you or your loved one experience the signs of OCD above, it's important to discuss them with your family doctor especially if you have not been diagnosed with OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder). It's important, especially if you think your young child or teenager may be experiencing them as well. The sooner the signs of OCD are caught, the sooner treatment can be started.