But it is important to seek help as the sooner treatment starts, the sooner you will feel better. OCD symptoms can feel embarrassing or shameful. Researchers are currently looking at how environmental factors and stress may play a role. Personality traits and distressing life events may also play a role in developing OCD. OCD rituals may even be learned from others, such as from a parent with OCD environmental - some research suggests that OCD behaviours could be learned following a stressful event, such as catching a serious disease from contamination.Some links have been found to irregular levels of serotonin, the chemical that sends messages to the brain biological - functional, structural or chemical abnormalities in the brain are currently being researched.It's possible that some genes may give people a predisposition to OCD genetic - having a first-degree relative with OCD may increase the chance of someone developing it.There are several theories about the causes of OCD, including: Like many mental health disorders, it’s thought to develop due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. It is not clear why some people develop OCD. People who suffer from OCD are also more likely to develop depression or other anxiety disorders, such as panic disorder or social anxiety.ĬHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS - Use the Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help. hypochondriasis - fear and preoccupation with developing a physical illness.trichotillomania - compulsive hair pulling.body dysmorphic disorder - excessive concern over a body part, and believing it is abnormal in some way.Other conditions can be closely related to OCD, such as: It is the obsessive nature of the behaviour that’s important in diagnosing OCD, rather than the behaviour itself. Some behaviours not listed here may still be OCD symptoms. constant demands for reassurance from others.hoarding random objects, such as junk mail and old newspapers.counting items or objects such as paving stones on a walk.checking: a compulsive need to continually check things, such as taps, locks or light switches due to a fear of damage or harm or to maintain order and symmetry.cleaning: excessive hand washing, showering or house cleaning due to fear of germs, which may result in dermatitis of the hands.preoccupation with religious or moral issues.

worrying you have forgotten to lock doors or turn off appliances.

sexual or pornographic thoughts or images.

preoccupation with having things in order, or with following certain patterns.

fear of hurting others - for example, your own children - or injuring someone in a car accident.

fear of contamination due to germs or illness, which may lead to avoiding hand contact or toilets, and an excessive need to wash and clean.

There are a variety of different symptoms involved in OCD, but often they follow certain common themes. OCD is not the same as Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD), which is when people are very rigid and are preoccupied with order, perfection and control. The sooner people with OCD seek effective treatment, the closer they are to regaining control of their lives. This can cause shame, forcing people to keep their condition secret. People suffering from OCD are usually aware of their behaviours and know they are excessive. For example, a person with OCD may need to check the iron is turned off 20 times. The compulsions can take considerable time, impacting on normal day-to-day activities.

compulsions - repetitive behaviours or rituals, that are difficult or impossible to resist doing, which are carried out to reduce anxiety.

obsessions - an unwanted thought, image or urge that repeatedly comes into the mind.

As the name suggests, there are 2 kinds of symptoms: It usually develops in late childhood or early teenage years and without proper treatment can become a chronic condition.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a treatable anxiety disorder that affects more than 500,000 people in Australia. Related information on Australian websites.

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