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
Feeling intense distress if you try to resist the thoughts or rituals
Needing things to feel “just right,” complete, or perfectly certain
Recognizing that the thoughts or behaviors are excessive, but still feeling unable to stop
Avoiding people, places, objects, or situations because of obsessive fears
Trouble focusing on work, school, or daily tasks because of intrusive thoughts
Anxiety that gets temporarily relieved only after performing a ritual
Symptoms that interfere with relationships, sleep, or normal routines
A mental health professional can diagnose OCD after an evaluation