OCD is a state of mind that compels you to repeatedly do things in a certain way.

You constantly feel that if you don't do something in a certain way or for a specific number of times, something terrible will happen.

Your brain gets stuck on a particular thought or a desire to do some random unimportant thing (like aligning the books on the shelf) and it can't seem to let go.

Although the problem may sound trivial and at times funny, a severe case could seriously affect your daily life.

Do You Have OCD?

How many times do you feel the need to wash your hands after a meal or after using the loo? This might sound like a strange question to you, but this is one of the common symptoms of OCD.

Here are a few basic symptoms that you can watch out for.

• Images and thoughts of absurd things and impulses that you can't control often bother you. For example, you keep imagining that you are going to harm somebody and these thoughts occur without prior reason or motives.
  
  
• You feel anxious and fearful if things are not done in a certain manner. For example, you fear that the whole house is going to burn down because of the stove. So, you keep checking whether the stove is off 4 to 5 times or even more till you are reassured.
  
  
• You constantly try to suppress your obsessive fears by repetitively doing something to prevent it.
  
  
• You keep counting and taking stock of your things over and over again because you feel you are going to lose them. This may happen while leaving the house or travelling abroad.
  
  
• You indulge in some sort of a ritualistic behaviour everyday in order to escape from discomfort and anxiety. For example, whenever you visit the loo you feel the need to wash your hands or flush the toilet several times.
  
  
• You get aggressive impulses to do or say something and can't control it. For example you are out for lunch  with your friends and suddenly you see a girl carrying a nice bag ,you have a sudden impulse to ask her how much it costs and you cannot peacefully eat till you have asked her.

How Can I Tell for Sure?

OCD is often confused with other mild problems such as perfectionism and an obsessive compulsive personality disorder (OCPD).

OCPD does not involve obsessions and compulsions.

If you have OCPD, then you are probably one of those people who can't let go of rules, schedules and patterns.

Whether you are cleaning your house or completing a project, perfectionism involves extreme devotion to whatever you do.

When you want to achieve the best, you tend to redo things till it's just right. Perfectionists don't do anything out of fear or uncontrollable urges.

Why do you have it?

There is no significant cause for OCD. The brain produces a chemical called serotonin.

This chemical acts as a messenger between the front and other sections of the brain. At times, due to insufficient levels of serotonin, the process is disrupted.

This may also be due to genetic causes. So, check if someone in your family has had it.

Maybe You Need Help!

Due to constant stress and anxiety, there are chances that you could dive into depression.

Your daily activities could be stressing you and giving you a continuous feeling of dissatisfaction.

If your compulsiveness has not reached unmanageable limits and you feel that you can control your impulses to repeat things, then diverting your mind with something you really like can help you control your urges.

If you're unable to control yourself, then treatment is mandatory. Temporary medication, psychotherapy, group therapy and cognitive-behavioural therapy are some of the remedies you can opt for.

(With inputs from Dr. Katara Nand D, Consulting Psychiatrist, P .D. Hinduja Hospital)