ocd characteristic - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Message Board

lorakaye85 · 07-08-2006, 12:27 AM

Is obsessive thoughts that you can't stop even though you want to, a characteristic of ocd?

Skip Service · 07-08-2006, 01:15 AM

good and bad thoughts keep on comming in minds of even a normal person. The only difference is that a person with OCD can't get them out , whereas a normal person can! .. Thou you can learn to ignore them .. just don't do any compulsions or ANY actions as a result of the bad thought ( besides being in distress .. which obviously you can't control ) and soon they'll all go lite and OCD won't bother you so much ..

right now i'am having slight problems with my OCD .. i'am not on medication and i hardly think that i have OCD!!

steveo23 · 07-08-2006, 06:07 AM

Hey

Obsessive thoughts that are described as "intrusive" (persistent, unwanted and distressing) can be a characteristic of OCD and Pure Obsessional OCD. These thoughts may or may not result in compulsive behaviour, especially in Pure O. However, periods of stress, depression, or high anxiety can bring on episodes of short term obsessive thought without an underlying OCD problem.

If you are experiencing obsessive thoughts, it is always best to speak to your doctor, especially if you find they are having an adverse effect on you.

Steve

seriousperson · 07-08-2006, 10:52 PM

In a book I just read by Abramowitz, he repeatedly (obsessively?) stressed that everyone has intrusive thoughts, but that the OCD person places too great of importance upon those thoughts. For example, when getting dressed for work in the morning, anyone might have a thought about how 2 blues are slightly different. But the OCD person would think that the difference of the blues is really significant (or, rather, that the thought about the difference is really significant) and so might change clothes. This could then be repeated with pinks and browns, and so on, until the OCD person (me) is late for work again.