Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition that affects millions of people worldwide, often causing significant distress and disruption in daily life. OCD is marked by two key components: obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are persistent, intrusive, and unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that create intense anxiety. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed to reduce this anxiety or prevent a feared outcome. These behaviors may offer temporary relief but often perpetuate the cycle of distress, leading to further interference in personal, social, and professional aspects of life.

Common obsessions might include fears of contamination, excessive concerns about harm, or intrusive thoughts about taboo topics. Compulsions, on the other hand, can range from excessive cleaning and checking to seeking reassurance or repeating specific actions. While everyone experiences unwanted thoughts from time to time, individuals with OCD find these thoughts and behaviors overwhelming and challenging to control, often spending hours a day consumed by the disorder.