Compulsions: Those Nasty Little Responses To Obsessions

I Must Shave My Legs: The OCD Miniseries – Part 3

Now that we’ve covered one of the main categories of signs and symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) – the obsessions – let’s take a look at the other category – the compulsions.

In the case of OCD, a compulsion is a repetitive behavior you feel driven – or compelled – to perform. The compulsion is a response to your obsession; it’s a way to prevent, relieve, or reduce the anxiety the obsession causes you.

Think back to the example I gave you about Kay. She was obsessed with dirt, germs, and disease. She very frequently washed her hands in order to prevent, relieve, or reduce the anxiety her obsession caused her. Hand washing was her compulsion.

Below are a few examples of typical compulsions that tag along with obsessions:

• If your obsession involves an intense fear of dirt and germs, your compulsion may include repetitively washing your hands or mopping your floors numerous times a day.
• If your obsession involves persistent doubt, your compulsion may include checking to make sure your oven is off multiple times before leaving the house or going to bed.
• If your obsession involves having things orderly and organized, your compulsion may include always following a strict schedule you set for yourself or organizing and reorganizing the contents of your wallet or purse.
• If your obsession involves repeated, aggressive, horrific, and/or sexual impulses or images, your compulsion may include constantly checking to make sure you haven’t hurt or assaulted anyone or even keeping your distance from the subject of your images.

Alone, these obsessions and compulsions may, once again, seem harmless. If you’re afraid of germs, naturally you want to keep your hands clean. If you’re concerned about burning your house down, naturally you want to make sure the oven is turned off.

However, notice the words repetitively, multiple, always, and constantly in those descriptions.

When these behaviors can be characterized by these kinds of words, they’ve crossed the line. Rather than being “natural,” they’re probably “compulsive.” And, if they are indeed compulsive rituals, chances are they take up a pretty significant part of your day (or night) and, on some scale, interfere with your ability to function properly.

Too, compulsions can go even deeper. They may require even more ritualistic behavior, so to speak. For example, if your obsession is a fear of dirt and your compulsion is to repetitively wash your hands, you may actually go one step further and feel compelled to wash your hands a certain number of times in a row.

Stay tuned to learn more about the causes of and risk factors for OCD. In the meantime, do you see any signs and symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder in your life?

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