Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition that involves intrusive thoughts, anxiety, and compulsive rituals or behaviors.1 In someone with mild OCD, these symptoms may be less frequent, less intense, and less disruptive to their daily life. OCD is a highly misunderstood disorder, and certain personality traits or tendencies are often mistaken as a mild form of OCD.
What Is OCD?
People with OCD struggle with obsessive thoughts that upset or scare them. They use ritualistic behaviors or routines to try to get rid of these thoughts or the anxiety and stress they cause.1 Only 2% of the population will develop OCD at some point in their lives.2,3
Obsessions and compulsions become a driving force in the life of someone with OCD, making it difficult for them to function. In fact, OCD is considered one of the most debilitating mental illnesses, because nearly 85% of people with the condition describe being either moderately or severely impaired by their symptoms. Less than 15% of people with the disorder report having more minor OCD symptoms.3
Key Symptoms of OCD
The two main symptoms of OCD include unwanted, intrusive thoughts that cause anxiety or distress (obsessions); and the repetitive behaviors used to stop or control these thoughts or anxieties (compulsions). An OCD diagnosis may be considered when engaging in obsessions and compulsions take up an hour or more of a person’s day and begin to interfere with their ability to function.1
OCD Obsessions
OCD obsessions can occur in the form of thoughts, images, or strong urges to do or not do something. These thoughts are described as intrusive, because they’re repetitive and usually cause someone anxiety or distress.1 The actual content of the OCD obsessions vary depending on the type of OCD one has.
Some common examples of OCD obsessions include:4
- Graphic images of hurting or killing people that replay in the mind (Harm OCD)
- Sexual intrusive thoughts about children that make someone afraid they’re a pedophile (POCD)
- Repeated worries about having a rare, terminal illness or condition (Somatic OCD)
- Strong urges to do things a certain number of times (Symmetry OCD)
- Excessive questioning of sexuality or sexual preferences (HOCD)
OCD Compulsions
OCD compulsions can include ritualistic behaviors that a person feels they must do in order to eliminate an obsessive thought, urge, or anxiety. They may also include mental actions like counting or repeating a specific mantra or prayer.1 The compulsions are sometimes, but not always, directly related to the type of obsession the person is having.
Some examples of OCD compulsions include:4
- Checking the front door repeatedly to make sure it is locked (Checking OCD)
- Compulsively reading books about the meaning of life (Existential OCD)
- Spending hours researching rare diseases online (Somatic OCD)
- Scanning the body for any signs of sexual arousal for reassurance (POCD)
- Disinfecting surfaces or excessive handwashing (Contamination OCD)
Mild, Moderate, or Severe OCD
There isn’t a formal system to determine how severe a person’s OCD is. However, it is possible for symptoms to be mild, moderate, or severe.1
The severity of symptoms can be determined by a number of different factors including:
- Frequency: How often the person’s symptoms show up
- Duration: How long the person’s symptoms last
- Intensity: How distressing or intense the symptoms are
- Impairment: How much symptoms impair functioning in one or more area of life
- Quality of life: How much the symptoms negatively impact a person’s quality of life/li>
Mild OCD vs Severe OCD
Most people who are diagnosed with OCD have moderate or severe symptoms that cause significant problems and disruptions in their lives.3 Below is a chart reviewing different examples of mild OCD and severe OCD symptoms.
| Mild OCD Symptoms | Severe OCD Symptoms |
|---|---|
| Occasional obsessive thoughts pop up throughout the day, taking up one hour or less of a person’s day | Obsessive thoughts are almost constant, taking up several hours throughout a person’s day |
| Mild anxiety or distress caused by OCD thoughts | Extreme anxiety or panic attacks caused by OCD thoughts |
| OCD thoughts can be side-lined in order to complete other tasks | Unable to refocus attention & complete other tasks |
| Compulsions are done quickly to make unwanted thoughts/urges go away | Compulsions take a lot of time and don’t always help the thoughts/urges go away |
| Able to keep a stable job, healthy relationships, and active social life | Unable to function at work or in another important area of life |
| OCD symptoms have minimal impact on their daily routine or quality of life | OCD symptoms disrupt daily routines & have a major - impact on their quality of life |
Common Misconceptions About OCD
OCD is one of the most misunderstood mental health conditions, even among licensed professionals. In fact, some research estimates that about half of all OCD cases are misdiagnosed. This is more likely to occur for those living with certain types of OCD that are less commonly portrayed. For example, someone with harm OCD or pedophilia OCD is more likely to be misdiagnosed than someone with contamination or checking OCD.5 It’s also common for people to mistake certain personality traits or tendencies as symptoms of mild OCD.
Some of the personality traits, tendencies, and behaviors that are mistakenly attributed to OCD include:6
- Liking things neat, tidy, and organized
- Having a set routine or schedule
- Needing to have a list, schedule, or plan
- Having a phobia or fear of germs
- Being highly detail-oriented
- High levels of perfectionism
- Getting upset when things aren’t done this way
- Being a more anxious or neurotic person
- Having a ‘type A’ personality
In most instances, these kinds of traits and tendencies are not symptoms or signs of OCD. Instead, they are related to someone’s personality, habits, or personal preferences. In rare cases, these traits may be a sign of obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD), a personality disorder characterized by rigid and controlling traits and tendencies.1
Is Everyone “A Little OCD”?
Only about 2% of the population will develop obsessive compulsive disorder in their lifetime, so the statement that ‘everyone is a little bit OCD’ isn’t actually true.2,3 It’s more accurate to say that OCD is a very misunderstood diagnosis, and that many people mistakenly attribute certain personality behaviors and traits to OCD.
How Is OCD Diagnosed?
Only a licensed medical, psychiatric, or mental health professional can diagnose a person with OCD. All clinicians use criteria taken from the DSM-5 to diagnose any mental health condition, including OCD. Most commonly, people receive a diagnosis during an initial intake appointment with a licensed therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist.
During an intake appointment, the clinician will ask questions and complete an assessment to rule out any other mental health conditions other than OCD. Sometimes, they also ask patients to complete a survey or questionnaire to help determine a diagnosis. Other times, the questions are asked directly during the patient interview. At the end of the appointment, the clinician will discuss the diagnosis and talk with the person about recommendations for treatment.
Treatment Options for OCD
Obsessive compulsive disorder can be treated with specific kinds of therapy, sometimes coupled with medication. If you or a loved one has OCD, it’s important to choose a therapist who is knowledgeable about this condition and who specializes in OCD treatment. Those who do not seek out specialized treatment may receive an inaccurate diagnosis or treatment that doesn’t address their symptoms.5
Exposure and Response Prevention therapy (or ERP) is the most effective form of therapy for OCD. ERP is a specialized form of treatment, based on some of the core principles of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Studies have shown that more than two thirds of people who receive ERP therapy experience an improvement in their OCD symptoms. Most of the time, OCD symptoms can be treated in 12 ERP sessions or less.7,8
Should Mild OCD Be Treated?
Even if one’s OCD symptoms are mild, it’s a good idea to make an appointment with a therapist. Otherwise, the symptoms of OCD can get worse over time, becoming more frequent, intense, and hard to cope with.7,8 Therapy can help one learn how to better manage their OCD symptoms and prevent them from becoming more severe.
Final Thoughts
For most people living with OCD, the disorder has a significant impact on their lives. Certain kinds of therapy like ERP are very effective in treating OCD.7,8 For the 15% of those with a mild form of OCD, therapy can sometimes prevent the worsening of symptoms.
For Further Reading
- NOCD: Website with information about OCD, support groups, information about the NOCD app, and help finding therapy for OCD
- International OCD Foundation (IOCDF): Website with articles, resources, and support groups to help people with OCD
- Best Online OCD Resources for 2023 – Choosing Therapy
Mild OCD Infographics
