Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) has many different symptoms, including contamination, checking, symmetry, hoarding, and intrusive thoughts.

Contamination 

If you live with OCD you may have obsessive thoughts that contamination, from things like shaking someone’s hand or using public toilets, could do you or a loved one harm. 

You might experience a compulsion to make sure things are clean and free from germs or dirt.  

Checking 

You might worry that something bad will happen if you don’t check things. Common compulsions include checking that a light or appliance is switched off, that a door is locked, or re-reading something to check if you have all the information. 

Even if you know that switches are off or the doors are locked, you will feel the need to check again, “just in case”. 

Symmetry, ordering, and counting 

Worrying that something bad will happen if things are not symmetrical or in order is another symptom of OCD. 

The compulsion to have everything “just right” can look like aligning the clothes in your wardrobe, for example, counting to a certain number, or making cans and jars face the same way in cupboards.   

Hoarding 

Depending on the severity of symptoms, hoarding can be diagnosed as OCD if it’s obsessive. 

Hoarding is where you struggle to get rid of items when most people see the items as not being useful. 

It can also include buying or collecting items you don’t need. 

Intrusive thoughts 

Most people living with OCD have some degree of intrusive thoughts. They are unwelcome urges or images that repeat themselves in your mind that can be disturbing and mostly out of your control.