Understanding OCD: When to Seek Support

By Dr Bhushan Chaudhari, Consultant Psychiatrist, Sexologist & De-addiction Specialist, Chinchwad, Pune.

We often hear people casually say, “I’m so OCD about cleanliness” or “I like things perfect; I must have OCD.” But Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is not about being tidy or organized — it’s a serious mental health condition that causes real distress and can interfere with daily life.

Let’s understand what OCD really means and how it can be managed.

What is OCD?

OCD is a mental health condition where a person experiences Obsessions and Compulsions. In Obsessions person experiences unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images, or doubts that cause anxiety and in Compulsions are repetitive behaviours or mental acts performed to reduce that anxiety or prevent something bad from happening. For example, a person might constantly fear germs (obsession) and keep washing their hands repeatedly (compulsion) even when they know it’s excessive.

Common Examples of OCD Symptoms

OCD symptoms may vary from person to person and in even in one person they may vary from time to time. Most of the people would have both obsessions and compulsions to neutralize anxiety stemming from those obsessions but some proportion of people would have only obsessions or only compulsions. Common types of obsessions and compulsions are:

• Contamination fears: repeated handwashing, cleaning, avoiding contact.

• Doubting and checking: repeatedly checking locks, gas stoves, switches.

• Need for order or symmetry: arranging things until they feel “just right.”

• Unwanted thoughts: distressing thoughts of harming someone, or religious or sexual thoughts that feel wrong or disturbing.

• Counting or repeating: repeating prayers, numbers, or words silently to prevent harm.

People with OCD usually realize their thoughts and actions are irrational — yet find it impossible to stop them.

Why Does OCD Happen?

OCD is not anyone’s fault. It can result from a mix of biological, psychological, and environmental factors, such as imbalance of brain chemicals (especially serotonin), family history of anxiety or OCD, stressful life events, or personality traits like perfectionism or high responsibility.

How OCD Affects Life

OCD can take up hours each day, affect work, studies, relationships, and self-confidence. Many people feel ashamed or hide their symptoms — which delays treatment.

But the good news is “OCD is treatable”.

Treatment and Recovery

With the right help, people with OCD can live full, balanced lives. Multiple effective treatment options are available for OCD including medications, psychotherapy and others. Medications such as SSRIs would help correcting your brain chemistry and help reducing obsessions and compulsions. Psychotherapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) Therapy help you to face your fears gradually and reduce compulsive behaviour. Even other lifestyle support such as stress management, sleep hygiene, mindfulness, and family education all play an important role. In most cases, the combination of therapy and medications gives the best results.

When to Seek Help

If obsessive thoughts or repetitive behaviours are:

• Taking up more than an hour a day

• Causing anxiety, shame, or exhaustion

• Interfering with work, studies, or relationships

…it’s time to reach out to a psychiatrist or mental health professional. Early treatment makes recovery smoother.

You Are Not Alone

Millions of people around the world live with OCD — and many recover with proper treatment and support.

OCD doesn’t define who you are; it’s just one part of your journey.

With the right help, you can regain peace of mind and live freely again.

Visit Us

Dr Bhushan Chaudhari Neuropsychiatry Clinic Chinchwad, Pune Consultant Psychiatrist, Sexologist & De-addiction Specialist📞 88057 20217

Your mental health matters. Help is available — and recovery is possible.