Recurrent, unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that feel hard to control
Repeated behaviors or mental rituals done to reduce anxiety or prevent something bad
Feeling driven to check, clean, count, repeat, or arrange things in a specific way
Spending a lot of time on these thoughts or behaviors each day
Distress when you try to resist or stop the thoughts or rituals
Temporary relief after performing the ritual, followed by the urge returning
Fear that something bad will happen if you do not complete the ritual
Doubting whether you locked, turned off, or did something correctly
Needing things to feel “just right” or perfectly certain
Thoughts that feel intrusive, disturbing, or out of character
Difficulty focusing on daily tasks because of the thoughts or rituals
Problems at work, school, home, or in relationships because of these symptoms
Symptoms that are not better explained by another condition
A mental health professional can confirm whether it is OCD