About OCD

OCD is so much more than being tidy or concerned about germs.

People who have obsessive-compulsive disorder may have obsessions, compulsions, or both. Symptoms can be mild, moderate, or severe, and usually get worse during times of stress.

Common obsessions include:

• Excessive fear of germs or contamination
• Unwanted, forbidden, or taboo thoughts about sex, religion, or harm
• Thoughts about harming yourself or others, even though you have no real desire to do so
• A need to have things in perfect order or symmetry

Common compulsions include:

• Excessively cleaning or washing your hands
• Ordering or arranging items in a specific way
• Repeatedly checking on certain things, such as making sure the oven is turned off
• Trying to think only “acceptable” thoughts
• Compulsively counting

Additionally, a person who has OCD typically:

• Can’t control their thoughts or behaviors
• Spends at least one hour each day on these uncontrollable thoughts or behaviors
• Doesn’t get pleasure from the behaviors or rituals, but may feel a fleeting sense of relief from the anxiety the thoughts cause
• Experiences significant problems in their daily life due to their obsessive thoughts or compulsive behaviors.

Some of our therapists are registered to provide telehealth in the state of South Carolina (https://llr.sc.gov/TeleHealth/Counselor.html), Florida http://www.flhealthsource.gov/telehealth), Vermont (https://sos.vermont.gov/opr/about-opr/telehealth-registrations-and-licensing/)