Obsessive Compulsive & Related Disorders; OCD, Hoarding Disorder, Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): a disorder in which intruding, recurring thoughts (obsessions) create anxiety that is relieved by performing a repetitive, ritualistic behavior or mental act (compulsions)

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Compulsions: repetitive behaviors or mental acts an individual is driven to perform in response to an obsession or according to rigidly applied rules

• behaviors/mental acts are aimed at reducing anxiety/distress or preventing a feared outcome; however they are clearly excessive or not connected in a realistic way to that which they are intended to address

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Obsessions: recurrent, persistent, intrusive, unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that cause anxiety or distress

• attempts to ignore or suppress obsessions or neutralize them by performing a compulsion

Body Dysmorphic Disorder: a mental disorder in which you can’t stop thinking about one or more perceived defects/flaws in your appearance

• a flaw that, to others, is either minor or not observable — but you may feel so anxious and ashamed that you may avoid social situations