Obsessive compulsive disorder affects people in different ways, but three main symptoms appear often. These are intrusive thoughts, obsessions and compulsions. They can make everyday life feel stressful and confusing.
Intrusive Thoughts
Intrusive thoughts are unwanted ideas or images that suddenly appear in your mind. They might feel like a memory, an urge or a picture that you did not choose. Sometimes something around you triggers them, and sometimes they arrive for no clear reason. Everyone has intrusive thoughts, and most of them disappear quickly, but because these thoughts can feel very strong they may seem to clash with your values. For example, you might imagine harm coming to someone and feel shocked by it, but these thoughts do not show who you are. In mental health training courses Plymouth, like the examples seen at tidaltraining.co.uk/mental-health-training-courses/plymouth/, people often learn how intrusive thoughts become more powerful when they are feared or analysed too much.
Obsessions
Obsessions happen when intrusive thoughts get stuck in your mind. They cause worry and distress and may make you feel unsure about yourself. You might find it hard to talk about them because they feel strange or embarrassing. Obsessions can take up a lot of time and make it harder to focus on normal tasks.
Compulsions
Compulsions are actions or mental habits you feel you must do to ease the worry created by obsessions. You might repeat a task, check something again and again or replay thoughts in your mind. Compulsions may bring brief relief but soon become tiring and can take over daily life.
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