Some people love their routines, and others are more spontaneous. Both are typical, but when routines start to feel less like preferences and more like urgent necessities, it’s natural to wonder if something else is going on.
What Is OCD?
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition. People with this condition often have obsessions. These are unwanted, frequent urges, thoughts or images that pop into the mind and can cause significant distress. They commonly include:
- Being afraid of germs or contamination
- Fearing bodily harm or being attacked
- Experiencing unspecified fears that something catastrophic will happen if things are not kept in perfect order
- Worrying about losing control and doing something violent or embarrassing
What Is a Compulsion?
A compulsion is a repeated action or mental ritual someone feels they must do to relieve the distress caused by an obsession. For example, intrusive fears about illness may lead someone to scrub their hands repeatedly, not because they want to, but because the action temporarily lowers their anxiety. They may continue the ritual even if they experience skin irritation.
Compulsions can be related or unrelated to an obsession. For example, someone who has recurring thoughts about break-ins may check their doors repeatedly to make sure they are safe. Or they may count up to a specific number in their head when they have intrusive thoughts about a home invasion, even though counting will not directly affect home security. The most common OCD rituals include checking, cleaning, repeating actions, ordering and arranging items and counting.
One common factor is that compulsions can be excessive and difficult to stop. For example, someone with a compulsion to arrange their home in a very specific way may become very upset if the arrangement is disrupted. They may not be able to handle a different setup at home or may spend many hours arranging and rearranging their possessions.
Strong, highly visible compulsions are not necessarily a requirement for an OCD diagnosis. Someone with OCD may have mild compulsions, for example, but may still feel anxiety about intrusive thoughts.
What Is the Difference Between OCD and a Habit?
A habit is something you do regularly because it feels useful, enjoyable or familiar. Unlike a compulsion, it is not usually driven by intrusive thoughts or intense distress.
Habits can be positive. For example, you may spend time with friends every week because it is fun. Some habits, such as eating too many sweets, while understandable, may have negative impacts. The difference is that habits are not tied to a sense that you must do them to manage anxiety or stress. It may be hard to skip a weekend with your friends, but you would be able to do it without significant anxiety.
Common Habits That Aren’t OCD
On social media, it’s fairly common for people to use the term “OCD” to describe any elaborate routines or fixed habits. If you have strong preferences or set routines, you may find yourself wondering if this is OCD.
This is where language can get a little slippery. Many people get temporarily focused, even intensely focused, on something. It is not uncommon, for example, to play a song you love repeatedly. Being “obsessed” with a car, movie or upcoming event is not the same as having OCD obsessions, which are intrusive and difficult to shake.
Many people even have intrusive or unwanted thoughts. When you leave the house, you may wonder if you left the stove on. An image may pop into your head out of nowhere. This is not uncommon. However, consider reaching out to a professional if intrusive thoughts, images or urges keep returning and leave you feeling fearful, anxious, disgusted or stuck.
It’s also common to have habits and repetitive behaviors without OCD. You may really like having your space tidy or enjoy spending hours knitting. You may even be bothered if your usual routine is disrupted. This alone does not necessarily point to OCD.
How OCD Differs from Habits
OCD-related routines can:
- Lead to distress or anxiety (beyond annoyance) if the ritual is interrupted or left incomplete
- Stem from unwanted thoughts, images or urges
- Take up an unreasonable amount of time, to the point that they interrupt the rest of someone’s life
- Potentially cause harm, such as gum irritation and enamel wear, from excessive toothbrushing
- Cause problems in relationships, at work or at school
- Be unwanted or unpleasant, but a person may still feel they need to do them, even if they do not want to
What Can I Do If I’m Worried About My Routines?
Since Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a medical condition, it is important to seek mental health help if you suspect that you have the condition. OCD often does not resolve on its own, and symptoms can become more disruptive without support. Compulsions can make it hard to work, go to school or maintain friendships, in part because of how much time they take up. Untreated OCD can also get worse during times of stress.
The good news is that treatment can help. Seeking help is also important if routines or compulsions affect your life negatively, but you’re not sure whether you have OCD. A qualified mental health professional can evaluate your symptoms and give you a diagnosis.
Find Compassionate Support at Merrimack Valley Psychological Associates
If you suspect that you may have OCD, are experiencing severe anxiety or find that your routines are disrupting your life, Merrimack Valley Psychological Associates has a compassionate team with experience across a range of mental health disorders.
We offer personalized, evidence-based care in a supportive setting, helping you explore what you’re experiencing without judgment. To schedule an evaluation, contact us or call 978-307-7253 today.
Reviewed By
Dr. David Rainen, PsyD.
I am a licensed clinical psychologist with an extensive background treating a variety of different ages, situations, emotional and mental health disorders in individuals and their families. As part of my 10 year professional and training career in psychology, I have developed and refined my skills and approaches through my work in a variety of diverse settings including: hospitals, community outpatient facilities, college counseling centers, secure and unsecure inpatient/residential treatment programs, and therapeutic day schools.