OCD symptoms in adults explained as woman shares reality of living with it
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a condition that affects more than one million people in the UK, according to the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
It can be spotted in children from the age of six, but some people may not realise they have the condition until adulthood. It is usually characterised by "obsessive thoughts and/or compulsive behaviours" that interfere with daily life, according to Beyond OCD, and these can be "unwanted, recurrent and disturbing" and are difficult to suppress.
Now one TikToker has candidly shared the reality of what it's like to live with OCD in a recent video and showed her daily battles she faces each day.
Taking to social media to share a day in the life, Courtney Hayes shared an honest account of the condition, writing in the caption: "I grew up battling OCD for about 14 years, and nothing drives me crazier than hearing 'I'm so OCD' because it's not about liking things neat and organized.
"For me, it looked like having this constant battle of obsessive/intrusive thoughts, then 'having' to do these habits (compulsions) in order for the thought to go away, and the cycle continued. If you're struggling with this, you're not alone."
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Then detailing exactly how the condition impacts her, Courtney shared a 'day in the life' style video, and said: "What having OCD can really look like".
In the clip, she then turns the light switch off and on and explained: "Having to do things a certain amount of times." She also shared how when it comes to the volume on her TV, it has to be an even number "or else something bad may happen."
Other things Courtney experiences include "repeating actions because they didn't feel 'right' the first time. And the intrusive thoughts come and convince you if you don't do it the 'right way' then 'something bad may happen'". Another part of her OCD means she will "obsessively check expiration dates just in case". In a bid to raise awareness, Courtney assured other "you're not alone" as she ended the video.
The NHS states that people who suffer from OCD will usually experience "frequent obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours," WalesOnline reports. An obsession is an "unwanted and unpleasant thought, image or urge that repeatedly enters your mind, causing feelings of anxiety, disgust or unease."
Whereas a compulsion is a "repetitive behaviour or mental act that you feel you need to do to temporarily relieve the unpleasant feelings brought on by the obsessive thought."
More information on OCD can be found on the NHS website. Alternatively, you can visit Mind.org for support with any worries or queries.
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