Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

This anxiety disorder has two components—obsession and compulsion.  An obsession is a persistent thought that the person cannot suppress.  Compulsions are actions that someone does again and again, sometimes hundreds of times.  In this disorder, obsessive thoughts lead to compulsive behavior, such as repeated hand washing or constantly rearranging things on a shelf.  The person may realize that it is irrational and making his life difficult, but cannot control it, as these actions seem to relieve his constant tension or prevent some dreaded event.    Often begins in childhood.  See anxiety disorders.