People with OCD may have obsessions, compulsions, or both.
Obsessions are repeated thoughts, urges, or mental images that cause anxiety.

Common obsessions include:
⊲ Fear of germs or contamination
⊲ Fear of forgetting, losing, or misplacing something
⊲ Fear of losing control over one’s behavior
⊲ Aggressive thoughts toward others or oneself
⊲ Unwanted, forbidden, or taboo thoughts involving sex, religion, or harm
⊲ Desire to have things symmetrical or in perfect order

Compulsions are repetitive behaviors that a person feels the urge to do in
response to an obsessive thought. Common compulsions include:
⊲ Excessive cleaning or handwashing
⊲ Ordering or arranging items in a particular, precise way
⊲ Repeatedly checking things, such as that the door is locked or the gas knob is off
⊲ Compulsive counting

Some individuals with OCD also have a tic disorder. Motor tics are sudden, brief, repetitive movements, such as eye blinking, facial grimacing, shoulder shrugging, and head or shoulder jerking. Common vocal tics include repetitive throat-clearing, sniffing, or grunting sounds. people with OCD also tend to have a diagnosed mood disorder or anxiety disorder.

Symptoms of OCD may come and go, ease over time, or worsen. People with OCD may try to help themselves by avoiding situations that precipitate their obsessions, or they may use alcohol or other substances to calm themselves. Although most adults with OCD recognize that their compulsive behaviors don’t make sense, some adults and most children may not realize that their behavior is out of the ordinary.