Originally posted on https://www.lucidatreatment.com/addiction-blog/do-i-have-ocd/

Do I Have OCD? You might ask yourself that question if you have any of the symptoms commonly associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Unfortunately, a number of false assumptions surround OCD and people who suffer from it. For example, being obsessed with organization or neatness does not necessarily mean that you have OCD.

Do I Have OCD: Understanding Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

What exactly is OCD? The easiest way to look at it is in terms of thoughts. The average person has plenty of random thoughts throughout the day. They pop in and out and don’t have much of an effect. However, a person suffering from OCD has extreme difficulty getting those random thoughts to leave. Instead, they feel the need to act on them to minimize the anxiety they cause. For example, you may have the thought pop into your head that your house might burn down. Instead of dismissing it, you go check the stove or another appliance to make sure that it’s off. If this action reduces your anxiety, it then reinforces the compulsion in response to the obsessive thought. This causes increased checking or any other obsessive behavior that reduces unwanted thoughts. Many people who have OCD also suffer from ADHD and many also feel the need to self-medicate with substances to reduce anxiety. Without treatment, the symptoms of OCD will only increase in severity.

Do I Have OCD: Check Your Symptoms

As previously mentioned, OCD is characterized by obsessive and disturbing thoughts followed by a compulsion to do an activity to relieve the anxiety caused by said thoughts. However, there are some specific examples that OCD sufferers experience. Check your symptoms against whether you do or have the following:

• Unpleasant and upsetting mental images of destruction, death or violence
• Examining your body for signs of disease or illness
• Senseless urges to enact violence on someone or commit a suicidal action like walking into traffic
• Excessive worry about your house burning down or being flooded
• Re-reading texts and emails over and over again before you send them or after
• Collecting useless objects or inspecting the trash before taking it out
• Personally unacceptable thoughts involving violence, sex or religion that you can’t control

These types of behaviors and thoughts are common symptoms of someone suffering from OCD. If you experience five or more of these symptoms, then it’s very possible that you have OCD or a similar mental health issue.

Do I Have OCD: Treatment Options

If you believe that you have symptoms of OCD, then a OCD Treatment Center in Lantana Florida can help. Lucida Treatment Center offers a free and confidential assessment of your mental health as well as a meeting with our admissions team. We also offer the following programs and services:

• Joint Commission accreditation
• 12 Step programs and alternatives
• Comprehensive continuing care
• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Gated townhomes near the Intracoastal Waterway in Florida
• Psychiatric care and medication management
• Self-help support meetings

Find out more about whether you have OCD and get options for treatment by calling us today at 1.866.947.7299. We can help you get on the path to a better life in recovery.