OCD Test
I spend hours each day making sure my belongings—clothes, groceries, tools—are perfectly organized or arranged.
Potential dangers at home, like fires, break-ins, or floods, often preoccupy my thoughts.
I can't shake the fear that my vehicle might accidentally hurt someone.
The idea of passing on sicknesses, whether COVID, flu, or others, constantly troubles me.
Unwanted impulses, like hurting someone I care about, sometimes invade my mind and cause worry.
I feel a strong need to wash, clean, or groom myself in ways that go beyond normal habits.
Checking things repeatedly—light switches, faucets, the stove, locks, or my car's brake—is a regular part of my routine.
Arranging items or counting them happens more often than I'd like.
Thoughts about religion or sex that don't align with my values keep coming back to bother me.
Holding onto things with no real use or digging through trash before it's discarded is something I do.
I often repeat everyday actions, like sitting down or walking through a door, a set number of times.
Looking over my body for any hint of sickness is a frequent habit of mine.
Letting go of possessions is so hard that they start to clutter my space.
While doing tasks, I feel pushed to count or perform other ritual-like behaviors.
Touching objects handled by strangers or specific people makes me uncomfortable.
Random thoughts that enter my mind tend to disturb me regularly.
When people rearrange things I've set up, it really bothers me.
Sometimes I wash or clean just because I have a sense of being unclean.
Vivid pictures of death or other terrifying scenes often appear in my imagination.
I worry a lot about misplacing something important.
20 questions remaining
What you should know
The National Institute of Mental Health says that about 2% of the population has OCD.
- Scientists think that unwanted, intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviour patterns that try to calm those thoughts are caused by a mix of genetic and environmental factors.
- The disorder usually lasts for years, but the symptoms can get better or worse over time.
- Obsessions are thoughts or urges that keep coming back and are meant to get rid of fears, usually of harm or contamination.
- Repetitive actions like washing your hands, checking locks, and hoarding are called compulsions. These behaviours are meant to lessen fear and the risk of harm.
What You Can Do
Try to accept your thoughts. Intrusive thoughts don't mean anything; they don't say anything about who you are, what you want, or what will happen in the future. They can't be controlled, so fighting them will only make things worse in the long run.
Repeated exposure: People with OCD think that situations will have worse effects than they really do. But seeing something scary over and over can help change how someone feels about it. For instance, not washing your hands after touching a doorknob over and over again might help.
Talk to an expert: People with obsessive-compulsive disorder usually get better with therapy, medication, or both.
