Obsessive thoughts and Compulsive behaviors

OCD is characterized by:

• Obsessions: Recurrent, intrusive thoughts, urges, or images that cause anxiety (e.g., fear of contamination, fear of harm).

• Compulsions: Repetitive behaviors (like handwashing, checking, counting) performed to reduce distress or prevent a feared event.

Symptoms are time-consuming and interfere with daily activities.

BDD involves preoccupation with perceived flaws in physical appearance, which are often minor or unnoticeable to others.

• Compulsive behaviors may include mirror checking, excessive grooming, or seeking reassurance.

• This disorder can cause significant distress, impacting self-esteem and social functioning.

Hoarding disorder is marked by persistent difficulty discarding possessions, regardless of their actual value, leading to cluttered living spaces.

• It’s not just about collecting; the inability to let go causes distress and functional impairment.

• Unlike OCD, the behavior isn’t always driven by intrusive thoughts but by strong emotional attachments to items.

This disorder involves recurrent, irresistible urges to pull out one’s hair, leading to noticeable hair loss.

• The behavior may be automatic or triggered by stress, anxiety, or boredom.

• Individuals often feel tension before pulling and relief afterward.

Also known as dermatillomania, this involves repeated skin-picking, causing tissue damage.

• People may pick at healthy skin, blemishes, or scabs, often in response to stress, anxiety, or perceived imperfections.

• Attempts to stop the behavior are usually unsuccessful without intervention.