If there is one thing young Nigerians are used to saying is that they have OCD. Young Nigerians say they have OCD because they have a general sense of cleanliness. But how does one really know if they have OCD?
Like every mental illness, a doctor has to diagnose a person with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
When you have OCD, you have a pattern of unpleasant thoughts and anxieties (Obsessions) that cause you to engage in repetitive behaviours (compulsions). These compulsive thoughts and behaviours disrupt daily life and cause severe distress.
These obsessions are intrusive, recurrent, and unwelcome, and they cause a great deal of distress or anxiety.
Ignoring your obsessions doesn’t work as it makes you more upset and anxious. In the end, you are compelled to engage in obsessive behaviours to feel better. This feeds the OCD cycle, which results in more ritualistic behaviour.
Examples of obsessions are;
Wondering whether you properly locked the door or turned off the gas
When things aren’t in order or facing the right way, it causes a lot of stress.
Thoughts of running your car into a crowd of people
Feelings of acting improperly in public or yelling obscenities
Excess worry about dirt or contamination
Anxiety about uncertainty and ambiguous statements or events
Requiring symmetry and order in everything
Having uncontrollable thoughts of hurting others and yourself
Fear of getting sick after handling stuff that other people have touched
Compulsions are recurrent actions that you feel compelled to carry out if you have OCD.
These recurrent actions, whether physical or mental, are intended to lessen anxiety brought on by your obsessions or avert negative outcomes.
When you are experiencing obsessive thoughts, you can create rules or rituals that you must adhere to in order to manage your anxiety. These compulsions are extreme and frequently have no connection to the
In order to manage your anxiety when you are having obsessive thoughts, you might make up some rules or rituals.
These compulsive behaviours are excessive and frequently have nothing to do with the issue they are meant to resolve. You may resolve obsessive thoughts by;
Examples of compulsions;
Arranging things in an orderly manner
Observing a rigid schedule
Asking for assurance or clarification constantly
Scrubbing your hands until your skin feels raw
Cleaning and laundering constantly
Checking
Counting
Confirming repeatedly that doors are locked
Repeatedly making sure the stove is turned off
Recognizing patterns in the numbers
Reciting a prayer, word, or phrase silently
Set all of your canned items on their sides.
