5 Symptoms of OCD in Adults
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) affects millions of adults, yet many people don't realize they're dealing with more than just quirks or preferences. OCD is a mental health condition characterized by intrusive thoughts, also called obsessions, and repetitive, compulsive behaviors that interfere with daily life. Unlike the casual use of OCD that’s thrown around to describe being organized, true OCD causes significant distress and debilitation.
Understanding the symptoms is the first step toward getting help. Here are five common symptoms of OCD in adults.
Intrusive and Unwanted Thoughts
OCD often begins with intrusive thoughts that feel impossible to control. These thoughts go beyond simple worries, oftentimes causing intense anxiety due to their disturbing nature. Examples include fear of contamination, harming others, or concerns about things being perfectly right.
These thoughts can be particularly distressing because they go against your core values and beliefs. On a rational level, you don’t believe you’d cause harm to anyone. For some reason, these unwanted thoughts keep occurring. The harder you try to push them away, the more persistent they are. These obsessions become a routine part of your day.
Compulsive Behaviors and Rituals
As a way to manage the anxiety from obsessive thoughts, people with OCD develop compulsions. These are repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed to reduce distress or prevent something bad from happening. Common compulsions include:
Excessive hand washing or cleaning
Checking locks, appliances, or switches repeatedly
Counting, tapping, or repeating words silently
Arranging items in a specific order
Seeking reassurance from others constantly
While these rituals provide a temporary relief, that feeling of calm is short-lived. Soon, the cycle starts again, trapping you in a pattern that consumes time and energy.
Difficulty with Uncertainty
Adults with OCD often struggle with feelings of uncertainty and doubt. You may find it challenging to move forward with a task without having absolute certainty about the outcome. Unfortunately, with most things in life, it’s impossible to find absolute certainty. With OCD, this looks like constantly questioning whether you locked the door, unplugged a curling iron, turned off the coffee pot, or even said something offensive.
The need for certainty can extend to relationships, work decisions, and everyday choices. Your brain may get stuck replaying past conversations or events, searching for proof that everything is okay. This mental exhaustion can affect the dynamics of your relationships and your quality of life.
Avoidance Behaviors
Many adults with OCD develop avoidant behaviors to prevent triggering their obsessions. This could be avoiding touching door handles, driving certain routes, or being around specific people or places. While avoidance might seem like a solution, it works opposite to what is intended and reinforces the OCD cycle.
Avoidance can become so extensive that it limits your daily life, interfering with work, social activities, and personal relationships. You may turn down opportunities or struggle to maintain employment because of the situations you’re avoiding.
Time-Consuming Preoccupation
One key aspect of OCD is the amount of time it can consume. Do the collective ritual of your obsessions and compulsions take up more than an hour each day? Do they interfere with your daily routine? Have your relationships or professional responsibilities struggled? If so, it’s a sign of OCD.
Some people living with OCD spend several hours each day working through their compulsions. This time drain shifts your focus away from what really matters. Work projects go unfinished, hobbies fall by the wayside, and relationships suffer because so much mental energy goes toward managing OCD symptoms.
Finding Relief Is Possible
Living with OCD can feel isolating and overwhelming. Evidence-based therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) have helped countless adults reclaim their lives from OCD. Suffering in silence and letting your symptoms win isn’t the only option.
OCD treatment provides the tools and strategies you need to break free from the cycle and live with greater peace and freedom. Contact us today to take the first step toward healing.
