When It is More Than Routine: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Although a relatively small percentage (about 2.3%) of Americans are diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), according to TIME magazine, as many as 25% of Americans have developed OCD behaviors during the pandemic – even if they do not currently have the disorder. What creates these behaviors, and is there a way to break the chain between obsessive thoughts and compulsive actions? We’ll look at this together today.

What is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?

When it comes to OCD, many people think of much-loved fictional characters who exhibit obsessive-compulsive behaviors or celebrities such as Howard Hughes with his eccentricity and phobia of germs. But the reality is that the average person can display these behaviors in subtle ways, such as they may find it challenging to purchase just one of an item.

At the beginning of the pandemic, several items were difficult to obtain, such as toilet paper, sanitizing wipes, and disinfectant sprays. Once these items were available again, people stocked up on them, fearing scarcity overruling their normal behavior.

Those with new OCD behaviors may have found themselves stocking up on other items with a new fear that they would run out, so they began stockpiling everything from cleaners to household items, from groceries to random things like clothes and cardboard boxes.

What creates obsessive-compulsive behaviors? The amygdala, the portion of the brain responsible for regulating fear and anxiety, sometimes goes into overdrive, creating obsessive thoughts. When these thoughts permeate the mind, causing the person to obsess over a fear, image, or number, the person reacts with compulsive behavior.

For example, Miranda (not her real name) never showed any actual form of OCD behavior before the pandemic unless you count an organized kitchen pantry with every label facing out. However, two years after the discovery of COVID-19, Miranda finds herself sanitizing her entire house twice a day, washing her hands and using hand sanitizer multiple times a day (even while living at home alone), and refusing to go inside stores or restaurants for fear of contracting the virus.

Whether Miranda has always shown a trace of OCD or not, she is stuck in the obsessive-compulsive cycle; her neural circuitry is working in overdrive.

Recognizing the Symptoms of OCD

Here are the six most common symptoms of OCD that may affect you or someone you love.

Hoarding. Hoarding is the collection and inability to dispose of anything. A person who hoards feels temporary relief when they can surround themselves with things they might need one day. This might appear as “junk” to most people, but these are important items to someone with this compulsion. When they are made to get rid of things, the compulsion to collect more is overwhelming.

Often they isolate themselves in their homes and are embarrassed if anyone comes to the door. Hoarding is a severe behavior. It can lead to so much clutter that cleaning and home maintenance are impossible, eventually endangering physical and mental health.

Cleaning/Germ-phobia/Contaminating Others. On the other end of the OCD spectrum, you have those plagued by thoughts of becoming sick or making other people ill by the spread of germs. These people will clean and sanitize areas repeatedly. They will wash their hands with extreme diligence and overuse hand sanitizer. During the pandemic, this symptom of OCD became prominent for many people, even those who had never before shown OCD behaviors.

Harming Other People. Disturbing thoughts, words, and images flitter through the minds of some patients with OCD. The fear of hurting their loved ones leaves the person full of doubt and the need to pull away from others. These can include violent, sexual, or obscene thoughts.

Order/Numbering/Symmetry. Extreme organization is a classic symptom of OCD. The need for order creates anxiety until the sufferer, in an attempt to feel relief, places items in precise order, sets items with the labels facing out, or makes sure everything is symmetrical. They may also obsess over numbers. For example, perhaps they need to purchase two of every item, touch a door four times or count to 21 before leaving a room.

Fear of Losing Things/Fear of Scarcity. A person with OCD may also suffer from chronic doubt and worry about losing things. This is another reason they might not throw anything away or are afraid to delete pictures on their phone – even though they may be memories that hurt.

Hypervigilance/Over-Checking Locks and Appliances. This chronic doubt can expand into worry about keeping an OCD sufferer’s family and home safe. These agonizing thoughts can lead to creating routines of hypervigilance, checking and double-checking locks and appliances, turning the car around to check that everything is turned off at home, or obsessing about the health and welfare of family members.

If OCD is Left Untreated

OCD, if left untreated, can cause physical, emotional, and social issues for the person experiencing the thoughts and behaviors. The insistent thoughts fuel anxiety that can lead to depression, fear, shortness of breath, and panic attacks.

High blood pressure and an overworked heart are common physical side effects of the OCD cycle. The thoughts lead to anxiety which in turn creates the behavior. For a moment, the person feels a rush of relief after they engage in the behavior, but this is temporary. Soon the thoughts will resume.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder interferes with a person’s daily life as well as the quality of life. The Bible commands us to fellowship with other believers, but those dealing with OCD may fear meeting with others face-to-face. They may be unable to work a job outside of the home or stick to a work schedule due to a routine of checking and double-checking locks or appliances.

OCD pushes people to isolation and makes them feel social rejection and anxiety. In extreme cases, married couples may have problems with their relationship, emotionally and sexually, due to OCD. The disorder can create disturbing images and urges that can frighten the person away from a meaningful relationship.

As scary as all this sounds, OCD is a mental condition that can be managed and treated with the help of a professional. Combining your Christian faith with a therapist can help you learn new techniques to break the cycle and regain the freedom you were meant to have in Christ.

Seeking Treatment for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Although there is no cure for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, the mental condition can be managed with various therapy techniques. One of the most effective treatments is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). The goal of CBT is to disrupt the connection between a stressful trigger and obsessive thoughts and the urge to find relief through ritualistic behaviors.

One of the techniques widely used is Exposure Therapy. This is done in a controlled environment by a professional mental health care provider who slowly “exposes” the patient to the trigger. The therapist can then help replace destructive thoughts with positive ones that will not lead to OCD behaviors.

Another technique is Imagery. With this treatment option, the patient is instructed to visualize themselves in a situation that will trigger thoughts and anxiety. This visual exposure is also performed in a safe environment (usually the therapist’s office), and the patient is taught to manage the ensuing thoughts. The therapist may create a care plan with other CBT techniques depending on the patient.

Christian Counseling for OCD

The thoughts and behaviors associated with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder can leave you feeling hopeless and stuck, but we know we are more than conquerors in Christ. We can learn to take our thoughts captive, distract ourselves with God’s word and serving others, and break the chain of following through with compulsive behaviors. Reach out to a faith-based counselor today for an assessment and treatment options. It’s time you were freed.