What are the signs and symptoms of OCD?

People with OCD generally:

• Have repeated thoughts or images about many different things, such as fear of germs, dirt, or intruders; acts of violence; hurting loved ones; sexual acts; conflicts with religious beliefs; or being overly tidy
• Do the same rituals over and over such as washing hands, locking and unlocking doors, counting, keeping unneeded items, or repeating the same steps again and again
• Can't control the unwanted thoughts and behaviors
• Don't get pleasure when performing the behaviors or rituals, but get brief relief from the anxiety the thoughts cause
• Spend at least 1 hour a day on the thoughts and rituals, which cause distress and get in the way of daily life.

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