Is COVID-19 making you wonder if you have OCD?

As we move into our fifth month of the COVID-19 pandemic, life has settled down for most of us as we adapt to our new normal. Here in British Columbia, we have been lucky; the pandemic has been far less serious for us than elsewhere in Canada and around the world. But, of course, our relative success dealing with the coronavirus is not down to luck alone. We have had strong, and effective public health messaging – keep two meters apart, avoid unnecessary travel, use hand sanitizer, and keep your ‘circle’ small.

Most of all, we have been told to wash our hands, frequently and thoroughly. This has been our first line of defence, and it has worked. We have been taught to be afraid of COVID-19 contamination – for good reason – and, for most of us, this has been a necessary inconvenience; something we must do to protect ourselves and others.

But for some of us, these fears become all-consuming, taking up the vast majority of our time. Our behaviour becomes ritualized, with incessant worries about contamination and non-stop washing to reduce our anxiety. When this is the case, we may want to look at whether or not this is OCD.

What is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, has two defining characteristics – obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are involuntary thoughts, images, or impulses that occur over and over again in your mind. You do not want to have these ideas, but, whatever you do, you cannot stop them. Unfortunately, these obsessive thoughts are often disturbing and distracting.

Compulsions are behaviours or rituals that you feel driven to act out again and again. Usually, compulsions are performed in an attempt to make obsessions go away. For example, if you’re afraid of contamination, you might develop elaborate cleaning rituals. However, relief never lasts. In fact, the obsessive thoughts usually come back stronger. And the compulsive rituals and behaviours often end up causing anxiety themselves as they become more demanding and time-consuming. This is the vicious cycle of OCD.

Four Ways that OCD might show up.

Although the OCD sufferer could have a wide range of obsessions and compulsions, there are four general categories that obsessions and compulsions tend to fall into: contamination; symmetry and arranging; doubt about accidental harm and checking; and unacceptable taboo thoughts and mental rituals.

Fear of contamination typically involves excessive concern regarding the threat of illness or disease, the feeling of being physically unclean, or even feelings of being mentally polluted. People with this type of OCD may go to great lengths to avoid places and situations associated with feared contaminants (e.g., public bathrooms, etc.) and may involve themselves in many protective rituals, such as disinfecting and sterilizing, compulsive hand washing, throwing "contaminated" objects away, changing clothes frequently, and designating "clean" areas within their home that are off-limits to others. 

Individuals obsessed with symmetry and arranging end to be primarily preoccupied with order, symmetry, and exactness. These individuals tend to engage in compulsive behaviours that include repetitive arranging, organizing, or lining up of objects until certain conditions are met.

People struggling with obsessions about accidental harm and checking typically experience intrusive images, impulses, and fears related to the possibility of unintentionally harming themselves or someone else by means of carelessness or negligence. Accompanying the fear of harm is often an excessive feeling of doubt, dread, or uncertainty, as well as a heightened feeling of responsibility. Repetitive checking behaviours are used as a means to neutralize these feelings of dread and uncertainty by ultimately attempting to prevent or avert the perceived dangerous consequence.

Finally, the taboo or unacceptable thoughts symptom dimension characterizes individuals with unwanted obsessions that are often of a religious, violent, or sexual nature. These individuals tend to engage in covert compulsions, such as reassurance-seeking, researching, and mental rituals such as arguing with oneself over one’s character or trying to replace ‘bad’ thoughts with ‘good’ thoughts.

Does this sound like you, or someone you care about? As awful and overwhelming as these sound, there is an effective therapy for OCD.

Erik Schindler, MA, RCC is the author of this article and has a special interest in helping people who are managing OCD in their lives. Contact us online or at 778-850-1002, and he can help you or your loved one manage their OCD symptoms, and find freedom.