Understand more about OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) in adults, take a short test, and find out how we can help.
OCD, or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, can affect people of all ages and backgrounds. It often involves unwanted thoughts, images, or doubts that feel hard to ignore. People with OCD can also feel compelled to undertake particular actions or rituals.
OCD can centre on contamination worries, uncertainty, a fear of harm, or a strong need to feel sure. OCD is often exhausting and time consuming, and it can make everyday life feel smaller and harder to manage.
You may recognise some of these experiences in yourself:
Intrusive thoughts that feel upsetting, disturbing, or out of character
Feeling stuck in loops of doubt, checking, or reassurance seeking
Washing, cleaning, repeating, counting, or arranging to reduce anxiety
Mental rituals, like replaying events or trying to “undo” a thought
Avoiding certain places, people, objects, or situations because they feel unsafe
Feeling temporary relief after a ritual, then the worry returning