What is and what is not OCD?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by two interrelated phenomena: obsessions and compulsions . Obsessions are intrusive, repetitive, and unwanted thoughts, impulses, or images that cause significant distress. Compulsions are behaviors, both physical (which may be observed by others) and mental (which the person performs internally and are not observable), that are usually repetitive and are carried out to reduce the distress caused by the obsessions or to prevent harm to oneself or others (often loved ones). Sometimes, people with OCD feel compelled to perform actions in a rigid and stereotyped manner, following self-imposed rules (doing things in a certain order or a specific number of times) until they feel they are "right."

It's important to understand that having OCD is not the same as being "manic." We can all have occasional intrusive thoughts, habits, or self-imposed rules, but these don't cause significant distress if we don't engage in them, they don't occupy more than an hour a day, and they aren't repeated daily. In contrast, in people with OCD, the thoughts, images, or impulses, and the associated rituals, are very frequent, take up a large amount of their time, are accompanied by intense negative emotions (fear, disgust, guilt, etc.), and make it difficult for them to adapt and function in various areas of their lives (studies, work, family, friends, etc.).

The term "obsessive" is sometimes misused to describe certain personality traits and confused with having OCD. People with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder have certain persistent character traits that make it difficult for them to adapt appropriately to their family, social, work, or academic environments. These traits are characterized by a tendency toward perfectionism, excessive demands in various areas, a tendency toward rigidity and rumination, and a general preoccupation with order and small details, even if this leads to reduced efficiency, disproportionate time spent on tasks, or difficulties in relationships in some cases.

A person with OCD may or may not have an obsessive-compulsive personality, since both conditions sometimes coexist, and in other cases, the person with OCD may have a perfectly well-adjusted personality or exhibit other types of dysfunctional personality traits (avoidant, dependent, borderline, etc.). Personality assessment should be carried out when the obsessions and rituals have improved as much as possible, and always by a specialist (when a person with OCD is experiencing a particularly severe episode, their personality may appear dysfunctional, but they may turn out to be a much more well-adjusted and functional person once their OCD improves).