Obsessions and compulsions

Many people have unwanted or unpleasant thoughts from time to time and can usually put these aside. Obsessive thoughts are those which are hard to get rid of. These thoughts can come to mind at any time, pushing out other thoughts, causing anxiety. To alleviate the anxiety, some people develop compulsive behaviour, such as excessive hand washing, checking doors or light switches, or other repetitive actions.

Do you recognise these common obsessions and compulsions?

Obsessive thinking:

  • Fearful thoughts or frightening mental images about:
  • Health / contamination by dirt or disease
  • Serious or harmful consequences of your carelessness, such as, the house being burgled because you left the door open, or causing a traffic accident
  • Causing harm or pain to loved ones, such as injuring your child or being unfaithful to your partner
  • Your faith, including doubts or blasphemous thoughts
  • Dwelling on thoughts of your loved ones
  • Feeling that the order and placement of things is very important, for example, being concerned about the alignment of ornaments on a shelf

What you feel when you experience obsessive thoughts:

  • Fear
  • Agitation
  • Anxiety
  • Guilt
  • Depression
  • Disgust
  • Tension

Compulsive behaviours:

  • Check your body for signs of contaminations
  • Wash or disinfect frequently
  • Avoid going to places or touching objects that you fear may contaminate you
  • Avoid being the last person out of the house
  • Avoid situations which you feel put you at risk of causing harm, for example, by hiding kitchen knives
  • Gain reassurance from repeated actions such as switching on and off lights, locking and unlocking doors
  • Arrange and rearrange objects until they feel right
  • Avoid situations in which you have responsibilities
  • Seek reassurance regularly from another person that everything is alright
  • Consult religious leaders, pray or seek forgiveness frequently

What you feel when you carry out compulsive behaviours or thoughts:

  • Relief
  • Agitation
  • Anxiety/ reduced anxiety
  • Relaxation
  • Disappointment

Most people don't experience all of these but if a number of these symptoms seem familiar and are interfering with your life, people often refer to this as obsessive compulsive disorder or OCD.

If you would like support to manage your life differently and you are ready to make changes to improve your wellbeing, then we may be able to help:

You can also find more information on NHS Choices and in Our useful resources and links.