Occasionally it’s normal to go back and double-check that the iron is unplugged or worry that you might be contaminated by germs, or even have an infrequent disturbing, violent thought.

 

But people suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors become so consuming and interfere with their daily life.

 

OCD is disorder characterized by uncontrollable, unwanted thoughts and ritualized, repetitive behaviors people feel compelled to perform. People with OCD , probably recognize that their obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors are irrational—but even so, they feel unable to resist them.

 

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is the most effective treatment for OCD and in general involves two components: Exposure and response prevention and cognitive therapy.