Obsessive-compulsive disorder is characterized by obsessions (intense, unwanted thoughts) and compulsive behaviors (mental or physical) that are done to reduce the anxiety created by obsessions.

Many individuals with OCD experience highly distressing intrusive thoughts. Intrusive thoughts are ego-dystonic, meaning that they do not align with a person’s values, but create intense anxiety. For example, someone with OCD may have an intense fear of harming someone they love. The individual has no desire or intention of harming this person, but they experience highly distressing thoughts around this topic.

We all experience intrusive thoughts sometimes, but for a person with OCD, these thoughts can become debilitating.

For instance, have you ever been driving and had the thought pass through your mind that you could swerve into oncoming traffic? For most people, this would be a passing thought that would be recognized as just being a random thought. However, for people with OCD, intrusive thoughts can cause extreme levels of anxiety.

OCD can cause a wide range of symptoms, including intense anxiety, avoidance behaviors, repetitive actions, excessive reassurance seeking, and significant difficulties in completing daily activities like attending school or going to work.