Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Its Symptoms and Most Common Compulsions

What is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder ?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is considered as an anxiety disorder characterized by repetitive rituals of different forms. The reason why they make these rituals is because they think that if they don't do it, something bad will happen.

Some common symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)

• Fear of making any mistake
• Fear of harming the others
• Fear of thinking evil thoughts
• Fear of being embarrassed, etc...

Most common compulsions:

• Repetitive bathing, showering or washing of the hands. 
• Checking things in a repetitive way, such as locks.
• Counting mentally or even aloud when performing routine tasks.
• Food eating by order.
• Repetitive words or religious prayers.
• The need of performing a task in a certain number times.

The reason which cause obsessive compulsive disorder:

Although there is not a specific cause of obsessive compulsive disorder, studies and researches have shown that it is a combination of biological and environmental factors that effect on this disorder.

Biological factors: Brain is made of billion cells called neurons, and neurons communicate with each-other. The communication between cells is made by some kind of chemicals called neurotransmitters.  Before it was believed that low level of neurotransmitter serotonin may affect on the development of OCD, however recent studies show that there are also other biological factors that impact of the development of obsessive-compulsive disorder.