The symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) vary from patient to patient. They highly depend on what type of obsessive thoughts that enter the patient’s mind. Obviously, there are countless things and ideas that a person can be obsessed with. There are also countless ways of responding to these obsessions. Thus, compulsive actions vary just as widely.
However, there are obsessions that are more common than the others. Obsessions are persistent, distressing, unpleasant thoughts or urges that keep bothering the patient. Some of the most common obsessions include having unwanted disturbing thoughts such as violent or sexual urges. An OCD patient may also fear behaving inappropriately or making mistakes. He also needs everything to be proper, faultless, flawless, and perfect. Another very common obsession is fearing that he might hurt or cause harm to other people especially those he loves. Other OCD patients feel an irresistible urge to confess to something.
Compulsions are the response of the patient to control or neutralize the obsession. Because obsessions are persistent, the patient usually responds repeatedly. Compulsive actions vary according to the obsession. For example, a patient who fears germs and contamination reacts by constantly washing his hands or constant cleaning. Some of the most common compulsions include:
counting while performing routine tasks such as counting steps and making sure he or she completes a certain number of steps
fascination with certain numbers and loathing other numbers. For example, a person obsessed with even numbers hate odd numbers.
doing things over and over again or in a certain order that other people might find a little absurd
repeatedly checking things related to their obsession like locks, doors, plugs, and stove
meticulously arranging and rearranging objects in a neat order carefully like aligning objects at absolute right angles or perfect parallels
mumbling or thinking about certain words, phrases, numbers, prayers, or songs over and over again
hoarding items that are usually of no value
repeated clearing of throat even when there’s nothing to be cleared
making sure that both sides of the body feel even. For example, if you accidentally wet your left hand, you feel uncomfortable until you intentionally wet your right hand.
twisting the head of a toy around and twisting it all the way back in the opposite direction
Aside from obsessive thoughts and compulsive actions, OCD also has physical symptoms, which are very similar to those of a panic attack. These include dizziness, heart palpitation, sweating, trembling or shaking, and shortness of breath. Panic disorder and social disorder can also be associated to OCD.