Sufferers may find themselves stuck in a repetitive sequence of numbers that mentally repeat. They might say “2,4,6,8,10” over and over again in their heads. But when trying to avoid this sequence of numbers, the repetitiveness only seems to get louder and more annoying.
Sufferers may be plagued with thoughts of something bad happening that will only be stopped by performing a ritual. For example, you may need to walk through a certain doorway in your home because you believe that if you don’t, a loved one will die. Or you may need to turn right on a random street while driving to avoid a fate that you fear (like developing a disease or dying).
Obsessing over frustrating concepts like cleanliness is common. Cleaning the countertop over and over but still believing it is dirty or feeling the need to wash hands to the point that they bleed may be OCD behaviors.
Normal Thoughts vs. OCD Thoughts
So how do you tell the difference between normal thoughts and OCD-related patterns? It all comes down to the time you spend in this state of mind.
One of the biggest ways to determine the difference between normal and obsessive-compulsive behavior is the extent to which these behaviors affect your life. In other words, OCD isn’t just a “sometimes thing.”