What are 5 of the main symptoms of OCD?

Common types of compulsive behaviour in people with OCD include:
  • cleaning and hand washing.
  • checking – such as checking doors are locked or that the gas is off.
  • counting.
  • ordering and arranging.
  • hoarding.
  • asking for reassurance.
  • repeating words in their head.
  • thinking "neutralising" thoughts to counter the obsessive thoughts.
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What are the 5 types of OCD?

5 Common Types of OCD
  1. Organization. Possibly the most recognizable form of OCD, this type involves obsessions about things being in precisely the right place or symmetrical. ...
  2. Contamination. Contamination OCD revolves around two general ideas. ...
  3. Intrusive Thoughts. ...
  4. Ruminations. ...
  5. Checking.
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What are the 4 types of OCD?

The 4 Types of OCD
  • contamination.
  • perfection.
  • doubt/harm.
  • forbidden thoughts.
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What are the 7 forms of OCD?

Common Types of OCD
  • Aggressive or sexual thoughts. ...
  • Harm to loved ones. ...
  • Germs and contamination. ...
  • Doubt and incompleteness. ...
  • Sin, religion, and morality. ...
  • Order and symmetry. ...
  • Self-control.
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What does mild OCD look like?

In the cases of mild OCD, the intrusive thoughts are not time-consuming in a significant way (at least, at first glance). Or maybe, even though the person is troubled by the thoughts, they do not notably impair his or her daily functioning.
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What are some OCD behaviors?

Common compulsive behaviors in OCD include:

Repeatedly checking in on loved ones to make sure they're safe. Counting, tapping, repeating certain words, or doing other senseless things to reduce anxiety. Spending a lot of time washing or cleaning. Ordering or arranging things “just so”.
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How do I know if I'm OCD?

OCD obsessions are repeated, persistent and unwanted thoughts, urges or images that are intrusive and cause distress or anxiety. You might try to ignore them or get rid of them by performing a compulsive behavior or ritual. These obsessions typically intrude when you're trying to think of or do other things.
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What are the main causes of OCD?

Experts aren't sure of the exact cause of OCD. Genetics, brain abnormalities, and the environment are thought to play a role. It often starts in the teens or early adulthood. But, it can also start in childhood.
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What causes OCD in the brain?

Researchers know that OCD is triggered by communication problems between the brain's deeper structures and the front part of the brain. These parts of the brain primarily use serotonin to communicate. This is why increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain can help to alleviate OCD symptoms.
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How does OCD affect the brain?

Unfortunately, obsessive-compulsive disorder diminishes the amount of grey matter in the brain, making people with OCD less able to control their impulses. Low levels of grey matter can also change the way you process information, making you more likely to obsess over “bad thoughts” whether you intend to or not.
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What is the difference between OCD and anxiety?

Though distressing thoughts are a big part of both generalized anxiety disorder and OCD, the key difference is that OCD is characterized by obsessive thoughts and resulting compulsive actions. In contrast, someone with more general anxiety will experience worries without necessarily taking compulsive actions.
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Is OCD a form of anxiety?

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, OCD, is an anxiety disorder and is characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviors (compulsions).
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Can OCD affect memory?

We have now discovered that OCD in young people actually significantly alters both memory and learning ability. OCD, which affects 2-3% of people at some point during their life, involves ritualistic behaviour such as constantly checking on things, placing objects in a certain order or washing hands repeatedly.
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Are people with OCD smart?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is not associated with a higher intelligence quotient (IQ), a myth popularized by Sigmund Freud, according to researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), Texas State University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
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Can OCD make you go crazy?

OCD may trick you into believing that any shift in mood, thought, or perception may be an indicator of their descent to “losing their mind.” Stress (like a pandemic) or significant changes (like being isolated from family and friends) exacerbate OCD symptoms, and naturally lead to increased irritability and moodiness, ...
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How does OCD affect the body?

OCD can lead to self-harm.

Ritualistic, compulsive behaviors may damage your body. Some OCD behaviors include pulling your own hair, picking at your skin until it bleeds, or vomiting food to avoid weight gain (bulimia). Even excessive hand washing can be harmful.
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Who is at risk for OCD?

OCD is most commonly triggered in older teens or young adults. Studies indicate that late adolescence is a period of increased vulnerability for the development of OCD. Boys are more likely to experience the onset of OCD prior to puberty and those who have a family member with OCD or Tourette Syndrome are most at risk.
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Is OCD caused by childhood trauma?

The Connection Between OCD and Childhood Trauma

Many studies have solidified the link between OCD and childhood trauma. A theory proposed by psychologist Stanley Rachman suggests that people are more likely to experience obsessions when they are exposed to stressful situations.
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What are the signs of OCD in a teenager?

What Are Signs of OCD in Children and Teens?
  • Fear of dirt or germs.
  • Fear of contamination.
  • A need for symmetry, order, and precision.
  • Religious obsessions.
  • Preoccupation with body wastes.
  • Lucky and unlucky numbers.
  • Sexual or aggressive thoughts.
  • Fear of illness or harm coming to oneself or relatives.
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What are some common obsessions in OCD?

Common Obsessions in OCD
  • Body fluids (examples: urine, feces)
  • Germs/disease (examples: herpes, HIV)
  • Environmental contaminants (examples: asbestos, radiation)
  • Household chemicals (examples: cleaners, solvents)
  • Dirt.
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What are the most common intrusive thoughts?

Seven common intrusive thought examples
  • 1) The thought of hurting a baby or child. ...
  • 2) Thoughts of doing something violent or illegal. ...
  • 3) Thoughts that cause doubt. ...
  • 4) Unexpected reminders about painful past events. ...
  • 5) Worries about catching germs or a serious illness. ...
  • 6) Concern you might do something embarrassing.
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Does OCD affect sleep?

Patients with OCD reported poorer sleep quality and more sleep disturbances, including a delayed mid-sleep point and a longer time between going to bed and falling asleep, than HCs.
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Does OCD show up on a brain scan?

OCD was one of the first psychiatric disorders in brain scans showed evidence of abnormal brain activity in specific regions.
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Does OCD cause confusion?

Inferential confusion and dissociation were predictors of symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder, according to study findings in the Journal of Clinical Psychology. “In general, researchers agree on the diagnostic criteria of OCD.
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Is OCD a form of autism?

Autistic symptoms and OCD can look similar

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and OCD are two different conditions, however, it is true that some symptoms of autism overlap with those of other disorders, such as OCD, and can look similar (Højgaard et al. 2016).
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