Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (or “OCD”) is often misunderstood as a preference for cleanliness or routine. In reality, it’s a complex, often difficult-to-manage condition involving intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors. Recognizing the signs of OCD is an important step toward receiving the right care from the best psychologist in OKC for your needs.
What Does OCD Involve?
OCD is marked by a cycle of obsessions and compulsions. “Obsessions” are unwanted, intrusive thoughts, urges, or images that cause distress. “Compulsions” are the mental or physical acts a person feels compelled to perform in response to those obsessions. Compulsions may be intended to reduce the anxiety caused by the obsession or to prevent something bad from happening.
OCD can look different for everyone, and the disorder involves a wide range of themes. These themes include:
- Contamination OCD: a fear of germs, illness, or bodily fluids.
- Checking OCD: repeated checking of appliances, doors, or emails.
- Harm OCD: intrusive thoughts about causing harm, either intentional or unintentional.
- Religious or Moral OCD: obsessions about sin, morality, or offending religious beliefs.
- Relationship OCD: intrusive doubts about a relationship’s rightness or the partner’s feelings.
Because OCD can present in many ways, it is important not to dismiss or overlook behaviors that don’t match the common stereotype of OCD being strictly about cleanliness or order.
4 Signs of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
OCD can look different for everyone, but there are some signs commonly shared across its themes. If you experience any of these patterns in a way that impacts your daily life, it may be time to schedule an OCD evaluation with a psychiatrist or psychologist OKC.
1. Intrusive Thoughts
Persistent, unwanted thoughts are one of the most common signs of OCD. For example, a person may have repeated worries that they’ve left the stove on or that something terrible will happen if they don’t act a certain way.
Even when the individual recognizes these thoughts as irrational, they often feel overwhelming and can lead to significant distress. The need for certainty or “just right” feelings may lead to persistent checking, repeating, or mentally reviewing events.
2. Repetitive Behaviors or Rituals
To manage the discomfort caused by obsessions, many individuals with OCD engage in repetitive compulsions. While some people wash their hands or check locks repeatedly, others perform silent rituals, like counting, repeating phrases, or seeking mental reassurance.
The goal of these actions is often to relieve anxiety or prevent something feared. Unfortunately, that relief is usually short-lived, and the cycle begins again.
3. Avoidance
Avoidant behaviors are another common sign of various themes of OCD. For example:
- Someone with contamination-based fears may avoid using public restrooms, touching doorknobs, or shaking hands.
- Someone with fears of harming others or themself might avoid cooking, driving, or being near sharp objects.
4. Time Consumption
Obsessions and compulsions often lead to significant time loss. The rituals or avoidant behaviors someone uses to manage OCD-related anxieties can prevent them from completing tasks or participating in everyday life. If rituals take up more than an hour each day, it may signal that OCD is present and requires professional care from an OKC psychiatrist or psychologist.
How Mental Health Professionals Can Help
OCD can feel isolating, but it is treatable. If intrusive thoughts, rituals, or avoidance-based behaviors are interfering with your daily life, working with a licensed mental health professional can make a meaningful difference. Services from the right psychiatrist or best psychologist in OKC can help you break the cycle and reclaim the parts of your life that feel out of reach.
Support From a Psychologist OKC
A psychologist OKC can help you explore the emotional and behavioral patterns driving your symptoms and offer therapeutic treatment options such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP):
- CBT helps individuals better understand the thoughts driving their compulsions and learn healthier ways to respond to them.
- ERP involves gradually confronting feared situations while resisting the urge to perform compulsions, reducing their intensity over time.
Support From an OKC Psychiatrist
An OKC psychiatrist can assess whether medication might be the right solution. Certain medications may help reduce the frequency and severity of obsessions and compulsions. Along with medication management, psychiatric care includes ongoing monitoring and support, ensuring that treatment remains aligned with your needs.
Reliable Help From the Best Psychologist in OKC for Your Needs
At Resilient Psychotherapy & Psychiatric Services, we provide evidence-based care that’s personalized, respectful, and collaborative. Our experienced professionals work together to support individuals struggling with OCD and other mental health concerns.
If you’ve been noticing signs of OCD and are unsure what to do next, we’re here to help you take the first step toward meaningful change. To schedule a telemedicine visit or an appointment at our Oklahoma City location, please contact us.