According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one out of every four people has a mental disorder. To make matters worse, the vast majority of them never seek treatment for their mental disorders. One reason is that they aren’t aware that their feelings are abnormal. For that reason, it’s important for people to ask themselves, “Do I have OCD?”
What Is OCD?
OCD stands for obsessive-compulsive disorder. In terms of psychiatric disorders, OCD is a type of anxiety disorder. Usually, people with OCD have unwanted and recurring sensations, ideas, and thoughts. These thoughts and feelings drive them to engage in repetitive actions.
The unwanted ideas and thoughts are the obsessive part of OCD. Engaging in repetitive actions is the compulsive side of the disorder. Not repeating specific actions can often cause great distress and anxiety. In fact, people who have OCD have a hard time not focusing on obsessions, which causes even more anxiety.
Remember that it’s rather common for people with OCD to be aware of the problem. They often recognize OCD symptoms within themselves but never seek treatment. In other situations, they try to self-medicate to reduce the anxiety that they have. Eventually, the self-medication turns into drug abuse, which can lead to addiction.
Do I Have OCD?
While some people are self-aware of the problem, others aren’t. Furthermore, some people believe that the occasional obsessive thought or repetitive action means that they have OCD. Keep in mind that not all repetitive actions are the result of OCD. After all, everyone may double or triple checks things from time to time.
First, you can take many online tests to help determine if you need to seek mental health treatment. However, it’s important to remember that these tests don’t replace an actual diagnosis from a doctor. In general, they simply help you check for OCD symptoms in an easy-to-digest way.
Second, you can ask yourself a series of questions to answer, “Do I have OCD?” Once again, answering yes to any of these questions doesn’t mean that you have OCD. However, they might indicate that the potential is there. For example, some of these questions include:
- Do you have a fear of germs?
- Do you have an extreme need for order and organization?
- Do you have a fear of hurting people or yourself?
- Do you obsess about making a mistake?
- Do you fear embarrassment?
Answering yes to these questions might indicate that you need to seek help from an OCD treatment center. However, you need to find a doctor to answer, “Do I have OCD?” The reason is that OCD isn’t something that you can diagnosis in yourself.
Get Help for OCD, Addiction and Much More
Are you in need of adult or young adult rehab programs? If so, consider getting treatment at Red Oak Recovery®. We even offer a dual diagnosis program if you struggle with other mental disorders too. Some of the other services that we use include:
Learn more about “do I have OCD” when you seek professional assistance. Don’t let this disorder keep you from overcoming your problems. Reach out to us at 866.457.7590 to find out how we can help.