Plenty of people enjoy having things clean and organized. But when is that tidiness considered part of someone’s personality, and when is it a symptom of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)? Is your passion for color-coding your calendar a form of being organized, or is it a mental health disorder? Here’s how to tell the difference:

What is OCD?

OCD is a mental health disorder where people have recurring, unwanted thoughts, ideas or sensations, referred to as “obsessions.” These obsessions make them feel driven to repetitively do some kind of action. That action is the “compulsion.” The compulsions are repetitive rituals that are done to try to get rid of the emotional distress around an obsession. OCD is not a preference of having things a certain way or a character trait of being organized. 

“The obsessions and compulsions really need to get in the way of someone’s daily activities and cause distress to be an actual disorder,” said Dulcie Austin, mental health therapist, licensed clinical social worker and licensed addiction counselor at WellPower. “OCD is when those three components are combined: obsessions, behaviors and an emotional activation. It impacts your life in a significant way.”

Examples of OCD:

Someone might have a fear of getting sick, so they wash their hands regularly and keep their environment clean. But, they still go to work and participate in other areas of their life that they normally would. If they had OCD, they might have an obsession with germs, which would drive them to constantly wash their hands and clean their surroundings. They might not be able to physically leave their home and go out into society.

“OCD is an internal drive that consumes you and your rituals have to be done,” Austin said. “For example, I love to color-code things, but I can go about my day without being stressed if something isn’t color-coded. I’m okay with things not being ‘perfect.’”

Maybe you like to make sure your doors are locked and things are turned off (like your curling iron or stove) before leaving your home. With OCD, you might not be able to meet up with friends because you’ve spent two hours doing a ritual of checking everything in your home before you could leave. 

Someone with OCD might also jump to an extreme conclusion about a scenario. For example, when the trash gets full, they might feel like they need to take it out right away because there’s a chance they could get maggots if they don’t.

“When your obsessive thoughts and behaviors are creating enough distress that it makes it difficult for you to work or take care of things at home, affects your relationships or causes you to live in constant fear, then it may be time to seek professional mental health services,” Austin said.

Types of OCD

According to the National Institutes of Health, there are several types of OCD:

• Checking (e.g. repeatedly making sure that doors are closed)
• Contamination (e.g. constant hand washing)
• Hoarding (e.g. collecting items and being unable to get rid of them)
• Indecisiveness (e.g. increasing the number of times you need to check or close the door for it to actually be “closed”)
• Just Right (e.g. not tolerating things being asymmetrical)

How is OCD diagnosed?

OCD is diagnosed through a mental health assessment with a licensed behavioral health clinician. The intensity, frequency and duration of the obsessions and compulsions need to cause impairment or significant distress and impact your daily life most days. 

Everyone is different. Many people with OCD are high-functioning, meaning they might appear to be “okay” but experience significant internal distress.

What causes OCD?

OCD can be genetic. It can also be caused by trauma. Obsessions and compulsions can also be symptoms of anxiety or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). 

“A lot of diagnoses can overlap and it’s really about looking at the full picture,” Duclie said.  

What does OCD treatment look like?

Treatment can look different for every person’s specific needs, but it starts with an evaluation and a diagnosis. Mental health treatment can include various types of therapy including cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure therapy and dialectical behavior therapy. Medications can also help with OCD.

“Mindfulness can also be a great tool,” Austin said. “Through meditation, you focus on your breath and being in the present moment, which can help with obsessive thoughts.”

How to get help with OCD:

WellPower offers behavioral health services for individuals across the lifespan. Send us a message online or call (303) 504-6500 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday for more information.

In crisis right now and need someone to talk to? Colorado Crisis Services can help.

• Call: If you are in crisis or need help dealing with one, call toll-free to speak to a trained professional. 844-493-TALK (8255)
• Text: If you don’t feel comfortable calling, you can also text TALK to 38255
• Walk-In Center: Find 24/7 in-person crisis support at any walk-in centers. Click here for more information.