- Obsessions or compulsions that are not due to medical illness or drug use
- Obsessions or compulsions that cause major distress or interfere with everyday life
There are many types of obsessions and compulsions. These can be physically doing things (behaviors) or doing them in the head (mental acts). Examples include:
- Checking and rechecking actions (such as turning out the lights and locking the door)
- Excessive counting
- Excessive fear of germs
- Repeatedly washing the hands to ward off infection
- Repeating words silently
- Praying silently over and over
The person usually recognizes that the behavior is excessive or unreasonable.
