You know, one of the most heartbreaking things I often hear from my patients struggling with OCD is this:
“I know it’s irrational, but I still feel I have to do it.”
They aren’t lazy. They aren’t overdramatic.
They’re stuck — mentally, emotionally, and sometimes even physically.
OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) can feel like a mental tug-of-war — where you’re constantly fighting your own brain.
And while some people believe they can “control” it on their own, the truth is:
OCD left untreated doesn’t stay the same — it usually gets worse.
Let me explain this more clearly.
🚨 How OCD Wastes Time, Energy, and Life
Imagine waking up and spending the first 30 minutes checking if the gas is off.
Then another 10 minutes making sure the door is locked.
Then re-reading a message 7 times to “be sure” you didn’t say something wrong.
This isn’t being careful. It’s compulsion.
🕐 Time is lost.
😞 Confidence drops.
📉 Work suffers.
🏠 Family distances grow.
Over months — sometimes years — OCD starts affecting everything:
- Personal Life: Delays in marriage, self-doubt, sexual fears, inability to enjoy anything fully.
- Social Life: Avoidance of events, fear of offending others, guilt, fear of contamination.
- Occupational Life: Low productivity, missed deadlines, quitting jobs due to stress, burnout.
🧠 What Are the Symptoms of OCD?
OCD has two parts:
- Obsessions – unwanted thoughts/images that keep popping up. Examples:
- “Did I really say something wrong yesterday?”
- “What if I stabbed someone and forgot?”
- “Maybe I didn’t wash properly.”
- Compulsions – the actions you take to neutralize those thoughts. Like:
- Rechecking
- Repeating
- Mental rituals (counting, praying)
- Avoiding places, people, or thoughts
It’s not about being ‘neat’ or ‘disciplined’. OCD is mental noise — loud, persistent, and exhausting.
📚 Etiology (Causes)
OCD doesn’t have one cause. It’s a mix of:
- Genetics – runs in families
- Brain chemistry – serotonin imbalance
- Personality traits – perfectionism, high sensitivity
- Life stressors – trauma, academic/work pressure, parental criticism
Sometimes, it starts after an infection (PANDAS in children), or postpartum changes.
🌍 Epidemiology (How Common Is It?)
- Affects 2-3% of the global population
- In India, it’s underdiagnosed due to stigma
- Often starts in teenage years or early adulthood
- Men often show more checking compulsions; women may have more cleaning fears
🧬 Pathogenesis (How It Works Inside the Brain)
OCD involves the cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical (CSTC) loop — basically, the brain’s error detection circuit.
In OCD, this loop gets stuck. The brain says “something is wrong” even when everything is okay.
The person then tries to fix that “wrong” through compulsions. But this only strengthens the faulty loop.
That’s why OCD becomes a cycle: thought → anxiety → compulsion → temporary relief → repeat.
💬 Real-Life Insight from My Clinic
I once treated a 24-year-old engineering student who spent nearly 6 hours daily on rituals. His grades dropped, relationships broke, and he felt suicidal.
With medication and ERP therapy, he gradually reduced his compulsions. Today, he works as a software engineer and recently got engaged.
OCD recovery is real — but only when we stop fighting it alone.
🧭 So What Should You Do?
✔️ Accept that OCD is not a character flaw, it’s a medical condition.
✔️ Early treatment prevents long-term damage.
✔️ Combine medication (SSRIs) with CBT/ERP therapy — the gold standard.
✔️ Don’t let guilt or “self-control” delay your healing.
📞 Reach Out
We treat OCD with empathy, evidence-based tools, and proven methods.
Mind & Mood Clinic, Nagpur
Dr. Rameez Shaikh, MD (Psychiatrist & Counsellor)
📞 +91-8208823738
🌐 www.hellomind.in
⚠️ Disclaimer:
This blog is for awareness and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for medical consultation. Always speak with a licensed mental health professional for diagnosis and treatment.
Dr. Rameez Shaikh (MBBS, MD, MIPS) is a consultant Psychiatrist, Sexologist & Psychotherapist in Nagpur and works at Mind & Mood Clinic. He believes that science-based treatment, encompassing spiritual, physical, and mental health, will provide you with the long-lasting knowledge and tool to find happiness and wholeness again.
Dr. Rameez Shaikh, a dedicated psychiatrist , is a beacon of compassion and understanding in the realm of mental health. With a genuine passion for helping others, he combines his extensive knowledge and empathetic approach to create a supportive space for his patients.
