I obsess about causing harm to others through some
unintentional act. I worry that I have hurt someone
with my sloppy or ineffectual words and will cause
them to become seriously unhappy. Or that I have left
a cigarette burning in my house or an appliance on
and that my house will explode and wipe out the whole
neighbourhood. This causes me to check things more
than once before I leave the house, and then to go back
into the house to check again. — Mary W.
This is the quote that is found in the first few pages of the Resource Guide entitled “Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: An Information Guide” offered by CAMH.
We have all experienced thoughts that at times can become intrusive and ruminating; locked into what seems an endless loop. Feeling anxious about something, or trying to process an emotion can bring us to that place quite easily. When the preoccupation becomes so extreme that it creates compulsions; however, you may be experiencing Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
OCD is a mental health disorder that affects people of all ages and about two percent of the population. The symptoms begin to occur gradually over time, characterized by a cycle of obsession and compulsions.
The information guide covers topics such as causes, therapy, medication as well as recovery and relapse intervention. To read more, follow this link: https://www.camh.ca/-/media/files/guides-and-publications/ocd-guide-en.pdf
Photo credit: http://Photo by Tine Ivanič on Unsplash
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