Obsessions: Things You Might Feel or Say

By Eric Hartwell

Obsessional thoughts and actions can be highly disruptive and unpleasant. They can range from mild symptoms to ones that are so powerful that they affect everything the sufferer does, says and thinks.

Some of the types of thoughts sufferers may have include:

"I think I will catch something from someone else"

"I'm afraid of getting infected"

"I think if I do something it will cause harm to someone else"

"I'm afraid that I have missed something important"

Obsessions can rule lives. The fear of contamination can lead to ritual and compulsive hand washing and cleaning. Even door handles need to be washed - or avoided. Worktops and surfaces need regular inspection and cleaning and personal contact with others is often prohibited.

Understandably, this can lead to social isolation and a complete disruption of the daily routine.

Some obsessive people fear that they may do ham to someone - for example, attack them with a knife or with their bare hands. The feeling is overwhelming. At other times, people may feel that they have left gas taps on or fires turned up. This leads to a ritual checking routine which can often include partners and other family members. Despite checking, the sufferer is never satisfied and the ritual simply begins again.

Everybody with such feelings experiences them in a different way. No two people are alike and no obsession manifests itself in the same form. There are recognizable patterns, though. With help and perseverance, the symptoms can lessen and full recovery is not always impossible.

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