A common misconception about obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is that it is a characteristic of “neat freaks” or those who are obsessed with organizing their homes. In reality, individuals who are diagnosed with this chronic anxiety disorder experience so many unwanted thoughts and compulsions that their daily life is affected, even hindered.

According to current data, nearly 1 in 40 adults (and 1 in 100 children) has OCD. As for the severity of OCD cases, half of adults with OCD had a serious impairment and more than one third had a moderate impairment.

Medical News Today describes how a person with OCD often has thoughts or urges that, if they resist them, cause feelings of “discomfort, including fear, disgust, doubt, or a conviction that things must be done a certain way.” The time and mental energy the person then spends focusing on these things either exhausts them, interferes with their ability to perform routine activities, or both.

Because of this, OCD can negatively affect multiple areas of a person’s daily life and their overall quality of life in several ways:

1. Avoiding Everyday Tasks
2. Disruptive & Unproductive Thinking
3. Strained Social Life
4. Triggers & Panic Attacks

An individual with obsessive compulsive disorder often must seek treatment from a psychologist or psychiatrist. Looking for a psychologist in Nashville? Learn more about Dr. Phil Chanin.

Avoiding Everyday Tasks

The severe anxiety a person with OCD experiences can derail their ability to do simple, everyday tasks for fear of losing control or causing harm. This ranges from avoiding driving or cooking to being afraid to eat or drink.

For example, an individual with OCD may have a fear of getting in a wreck while driving to work. In addition to taking a longer, less-trafficked route to work every day, they may leave two hours early. However, if it begins to rain, they may feel they are unable to leave the driveway. Or if they face an obstacle on their route – such as road construction – they may turn around and return home.

Disruptive & Unproductive Thinking

In some severe cases of OCD, a person may experience disruptive and unproductive thinking patterns. These thoughts become rituals, rules, or patterns that must be followed in order to create a false sense of safety and soothe obsessive fears. Examples can include repeating activities multiple times (such as repeatedly checking doors are locked), mentally repeating words or numbers that are “good” or “safe,” and rehearsing conversations over and over.

These continuous thinking patterns can ultimately result in impaired memory, indecisiveness, and idleness. This can look like having difficulty completing schoolwork or writing a report for work, misplacing personal items, or intensely focusing on insignificant details, among other things.

Strained Social Life

Research has found that the two areas OCD affects most in a person’s life are their social life and especially family relationships. This can have several root causes: social anxiety, severe self-consciousness and embarrassment, separation anxiety, distress at the inability to carry-out compulsions, and more.

The individual’s relationships and overall social skills often suffer because of this. Some people with OCD avoid social interactions altogether and may even become housebound. In other cases, friends and family members become irritated or impatient with their loved one’s thought processes, illogical rituals, and disruptive compulsions.

Triggers & Panic Attacks

A common symptom of individuals with OCD is excessive concerns with illness and germs, bodily fluids and environmental contaminants, and accidents and violence. Whether or not there is danger, the individual can become frightened by an object, smell, sound, or conversation.

Known as “triggers,” these catalysts can cause intense feelings of discomfort and even panic attacks or compulsions like excessive hand washing and house cleaning. Such repetitive behaviors and thinking patterns can, unfortunately, worsen and lead to depression and other anxiety disorders.

OCD Doesn’t Have to Run Your Life

OCD can be managed effectively with medication and psychotherapy. The key? Teaching the brain how to tolerate some discomfort and respond differently to obsessions.

Contact Dr. Phil Chanin, a Nashville psychologist for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder with over 40 years’ experience, to discuss your options!