What is OCD?

OCD can be present in various aspects of one’s life, and it takes a great deal of time out of a person’s life. You can conceptualize the anxiety associated with OCD as fear in the absence of an actual threat. When someone is scared, they will be in a heightened state of autonomic arousal, which includes symptoms such as faster breathing, more sweat, an increased heart rate, etc. Similarly, someone who is anxious will have the same response as someone in a state of fear, but without a clear danger. Someone with OCD will have intrusive thoughts driven by anxiety. Anxiety triggers a state of autonomic arousal, which narrows the visual field and intensifies the focus on obsessions and compulsions. People with OCD are excessively focused on their obsessions and compulsions, which means they are less focused on other parts of their lives.

OCD is a very common mental disorder, affecting at least 2% of the US population. However, the actual number of Americans suffering from OCD is likely closer to 4%, as the disorder's features often go unnoticed and individuals frequently fail to report their symptoms. OCD can sometimes be difficult to detect, as some individuals may not exhibit overt behaviors associated with their intrusive thoughts. Moreover, many people who have OCD decide to hide their obsessions or compulsions and/or do not report their OCD because of the shame they feel is associated with the mental illness.