What is OCD? Symptoms, Intrusive Thoughts & Compulsions
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition that is often misunderstood. It is sometimes described as being ‘very tidy’ or ‘liking things a certain way’, but in reality, OCD can be deeply distressing and life-impacting for those who experience it.
Driven by anxiety and uncertainty, OCD involves recurring intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviours that feel difficult to control. This article explains what OCD is, how obsessions and compulsions work, and how the condition can affect daily life.
Obsessions and Compulsions: The Two Key Parts of OCD
OCD is made up of obsessions and compulsions, which are closely linked.
Obsessions:
Obsessions can be known as intrusive thoughts, which can consist of images, urges, or doubts that repeatedly enter a person’s mind. They are unwanted and often upsetting, and they can feel completely out of character.
Intrusive thoughts are actually very common. Chartered psychologist Kimberley Wilson explains that “research suggests around 80% of us have these thoughts”. For most people, these thoughts pass quickly; they are noticed, dismissed, and forgotten. With OCD, however, intrusive thoughts don’t fade away. As Wilson explains, “OCD-related thoughts don’t pass on, they take up residence… that’s when it becomes all-consuming and leads to compulsions.”
Obsessions can include:
- Fear of harm coming to themselves or others
- Worries about contamination or illness
- Doubts about identity, relationships, or morality
- Thoughts that feel disturbing or completely opposed to a person’s values
Having these thoughts does not mean someone wants them to happen.
Compulsions:
Compulsions are behaviours or mental actions carried out to reduce anxiety or gain certainty.
They can be:
- Physical, such as checking, cleaning, or repeating actions
- Mental, such as counting, repeating words, or replaying events
- Reassurance-based, such as repeatedly asking others for confirmation
Compulsions may ease anxiety briefly, but they reinforce the OCD cycle over time.
The OCD Cycle
OCD often follows a repeating pattern:
- An intrusive thought or doubt appears
- Anxiety or distress increases
- A compulsion is performed to feel safer or more certain
- Temporary relief is felt
- The obsession returns, and the cycle continues
Over time, this cycle can dominate daily life, making it difficult to focus on work, learning, or relationships.
How Common is OCD?
OCD affects people of all ages and backgrounds. Around 1–4% of the population is thought to live with OCD. Rates among young people are rising. In England, the number of 16–24-year-olds reporting OCD symptoms has more than tripled in the past decade, and an NHS England survey suggests OCD is now the second most common mental health condition among young adults.
What Living with OCD Can Be Like
Disruption to daily life: Compulsions can take up large amounts of time, and people may avoid situations that trigger their OCD. Intrusive thoughts can make it hard to concentrate and leave people feeling mentally exhausted.
Impact on relationships: Many people hide their OCD due to fear of being judged or misunderstood. Reassurance-seeking or avoidance can affect relationships, even though the behaviour is driven by anxiety rather than intention.
Shame, guilt, and isolation: People with OCD may feel ashamed of their thoughts or worry that they say something negative about who they are. This can lead to loneliness and reluctance to seek help.
Effects on confidence and well-being: OCD can affect self-esteem, especially when it interferes with goals, education, or work. Anxiety is common, particularly when compulsions start to feel uncontrollable.
What causes OCD?
There is no single cause of OCD. Research suggests it may develop due to a combination of factors, including:
- Family history/genetics
- Differences in brain chemistry, such as high activity in the brain or low levels of serotonin
- Early life stress, such as bullying, bereavement, being a victim of abuse, or family breakdown
Support and Treatment
Many people with OCD learn effective ways to manage their symptoms with the right support. Treatment options include:
- Talking therapies
- Cognitive behavioural therapy with Exposure and response prevention
- Medications such as Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and Clomipramine
If intrusive thoughts feel overwhelming or hard to dismiss, seeking help from a GP or mental health professional is an important step. Other support groups are available here:
At HBTC, we have a list of different resources listed on our support page.
Living with OCD can feel overwhelming, especially when intrusive thoughts and compulsions begin to take over daily life. But it is treatable, and support is available. Taking the time to understand what OCD is, and what it isn’t, helps replace assumptions with empathy and support. Sometimes, that understanding alone can be a powerful form of help.
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Emily Simpson
Emily is our Digital Marketing/Learner Engagement Apprentice and is involved with all things social media and content development. She is also responsible for attending career events and maintaining relationships with local schools and colleges.