Signs of OCD Disorder - 5 Things You Can Do

The following signs of OCD disorder are by no means absolute. Evaluation by a licensed mental health professional is still the only way to really tell if a person has OCD. But among patients who have already been diagnosed, these signs of OCD disorder were observed (listed in no particular order).

- Constant, needless throat clearing - Repeated, excessive hand washing - Counting systems (e.g., fixing items in groups of 4 or even numbers, taking 15 steps to the car each morning) - Need to hoard or acquire things - Aligning items to achieve perfect right angles or make them parallel (Note: Similar symptoms are shared by obsessive compulsive personality disorder, but in this case, isn't stress related.) - Need to feel that both sides of one's body are even/uneven (e.g., Stepping on a sidewalk crack with the ball of one's left foot, then having to step with the right as well; having to wet both hands/feet) - Unwanted, intrusive sexual thoughts and/or obsessions (e.g., pedophilia or homosexual OCD) - Canceling out bad thoughts/images with good ones - Mysophobia or contamination fears (Note: Some signs of OCD disorder even involve soap being thought to be contaminated.)

What Can You Do If You See Signs of OCD Disorder?

The first thing you should do is to consult a qualified therapist or doctor. The signs of OCD disorder listed above may not necessarily mean you have OCD, which shares symptoms with other illnesses. Nor do they mean that you have anything other than a nagging habit you just have to break.

But if you're diagnosed with OCD, there are five things you can do to get better faster.

1. Educate yourself. Read up on the disorder. Studies have shown that knowing more about it really does speed up treatment time. Many self-help books have been written on the signs of OCD disorder and how to deal with them. What's more, success rates for many of these treatments are very good.

2. Constantly practice therapy skills. Don't confine the skills you learn to therapy hours. You have the info and the skills, now you have to work. What you've learned can only speed up treatment time to the extent of your patience and perseverance.

3. Sustain your family/friends network. OCD can leave you feeling isolated, which only feeds the disorder and makes it worse. Involving your loved ones in the healing process can encourage and motivate you, and prevent setbacks as well.

4. Relax. Breathing exercises, prayer, meditation, and exercise have all proven to be effective strategies in relieving stress and reducing signs of OCD disorder.

5. Join a local support group. Sharing your experience and learning from others has shown to be widely successful in managing the signs of OCD disorder.