OCD traits and characteristics
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) involves distressing thoughts and compulsive behaviours – understanding the signs can help you seek the right support.
OCD goes far beyond having a preference for cleanliness or order. It’s a complex condition characterised by distressing unwanted thoughts and compulsive behaviours that interfere with daily life.
If you’re concerned about yourself or someone else, it’s important to speak to a specialist for advice, as the condition can get worse if it’s left untreated.
How OCD works
Experiencing unwanted or intrusive thoughts can be normal and most people experience them at some point. They can feel very distressing, shocking, scary and may go against your morals and values.
If these thoughts dominate your thinking and impact your behaviour and daily life, they might become obsessions, which are persistent, unwanted and distressing thoughts, images or urges associated with OCD.
Because of the nature of the obsession, they can cause intense anxiety, shame, guilt and fear. To ease the distress, the person engages in a specific behaviour or mental action which provides temporary relief, such as arranging items a certain way or counting mentally.
The behaviour may then become a compulsion, as the person may feel that the only way to reduce the anxiety is by engaging in the particular action. Compulsions are often very time-consuming and significantly disrupt everyday life.
Someone with OCD may know that what they’re doing is irrational, but they feel compelled to act on the thought.
For example, an obsession might be ‘what if I left the oven on and the house burns down?’ This thought may cause so much distress that the person compulsively checks the oven before they’re able to leave the house.
Not every compulsion is visible - some can be mental actions. For example, they might repeat a lucky number, word or phrase a certain number of times to ‘neutralise’ the thought.
Common characteristics and traits of OCD
The characteristics of OCD often have three elements: cognitive (thought-related), emotional (feeling-related) and behavioural (action-related), each with their own distinctive characteristics.
Cognitive characteristics (thought-related)
These are persistent and distressing thoughts, images or urges that enter the mind uncontrollably. People with OCD may know these thoughts aren’t logical but they feel real and hard to ignore.
Intrusive thoughts might include:
- What if I hurt someone by accident?
- What if I touched something dirty and get sick?
- What if I didn’t lock the door and someone robs my home?
- Something bad will happen to my loved one if I don’t repeat this action or phrase
- This thought must mean I’m a bad person
Emotional characteristics (feeling-related)
These are the emotional responses to intrusive thoughts that drive the compulsions. They’re often intense and hard to tolerate. For example:
- Anxiety or fear: a deep sense that something is ‘wrong’ or ‘unsafe’
- Guilt or shame: feeling responsible for things outside of your control
- Disgust: a strong emotional reaction to dirt, illness or something being ‘wrong’ or against your morals
- Need for relief: an urge to do something to feel better, even if temporary
Behavioural characteristics (action-related)
These are compulsions - repetitive physical or mental actions performed to reduce distress, neutralise thoughts or prevent something bad happening.
Visible actions can include:
- Checking locks, appliances or doors repeatedly
- Excessive cleaning or handwashing
- Arranging items until they feel ‘right’
- Avoiding triggers such as sharp objects, certain numbers or people to prevent harm
Mental or invisible actions can include:
- Repeating words, mantras or prayers silently
- Mentally reviewing past events for reassurance
- Counting or tapping in your head
- ‘Cancelling’ bad thoughts with a ‘good one’
Symptoms of OCD by sub-type
While OCD is diagnosed as one disorder, it manifests in different ways and how the condition is experienced is unique to everyone. The content of the obsessions and compulsions can be categorised into different subtypes or themes.
Contamination OCD
The obsession in contamination OCD includes an intense fear of germs, illness or being ‘dirty’ (physically or mentally). People with this subtype may worry about contracting something or spreading contamination to others.
As a result, they may engage in certain compulsions, such as:
- Excessive handwashing or showering
- Avoiding public places, people or touching objects
- Elaborate cleaning rituals until it ‘feels right’
Checking OCD
In checking OCD, the obsession tends to involve a strong fear of causing harm, for example, by leaving the oven on or doors unlocked.
The fear is that something bad will happen unless they check things repeatedly, which can lead to compulsions such as:
- Repeatedly checking locks, appliances or taps
- Mentally reviewing memories to be sure no harm was caused
- Constantly asking others for reassurance (‘I checked the oven, didn’t I?’)
Harm OCD
The obsessions in harm OCD are related to accidentally or intentionally harming others or oneself, for example, by jumping or pushing someone in front of a train. They can include fear of losing control and acting violently or accidentally hurting someone while driving or being around people.
The strong emotional response to these fears can lead to compulsions such as:
- Avoiding dangerous objects, certain situations or being alone with others
- Mentally reviewing actions to ensure no harm occurred
- Repeating phrases or prayers to ‘cancel’ the thought
Sexual or taboo thoughts OCD
Sexual or taboo OCD centres around obsessions about inappropriate or offensive topics, such as sexual thoughts about family members, children, violence or blasphemy. Having these thoughts can feel extremely disturbing as you may fear they’re real or mean you’re a bad or dangerous person.
They can lead to compulsions such as:
- Mentally checking if you’re aroused or affected
- Avoiding people or situations linked to the thought
- Silent praying or confessing
Symmetry and order OCD
The obsessions in symmetry or order OCD centre around feeling like things are ‘off’, uneven or out of place. This results in a need for perfect alignment and balance to feel safe or ‘complete’.
This intense sense that things need to be ordered and arranged a certain way can result in compulsions such as:
- Arranging or aligning objects until they look or feel exactly ‘right’
- Repeating movements, actions or phrases symmetrically
- Tapping or touching things in even numbers
Signs your OCD is getting worse
It’s normal for OCD symptoms to change over time and sometimes they may escalate or become more disruptive. In times of increased stress, significant life changes or when the condition hasn’t been treated, the symptoms of OCD can get worse.
They might be worsening if you notice the following changes in your thoughts or behaviours:
- Increased frequency or duration of obsessions and compulsions
- Worsening emotional state
- Avoidance of places, people or tasks that are tied to your anxiety
- Changing compulsions, such as them becoming more elaborate or inflexible
- Obsessions being more real or justified, or less irrational
- Becoming defensive or secretive about symptoms
- Impact on functioning, like sleep problems or strain on your work or personal life
Speaking to someone about what you’re experiencing can feel daunting but if you recognise these symptoms or they’re becoming unmanageable, getting help is important.
Learn more about diagnosis and treatment of OCD and how we can support your next steps. It might be helpful to try our free OCD self-assessment tool designed to help you understand your symptoms better.