I’m a 25-year-old lawyer trying to figure out if I have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). I feel like I compulsively do certain tasks until and unless I’m satisfied, but then I don’t know if that means having OCD or just being a perfectionist. Everybody says they have OCD these days. I don’t know what that means. I really need to understand what I’m going through. Please help!—M.K Answer by Rishav Koirala, psychiatrist, researcher For you to understand what Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is, first you need to be clear about the terms ‘obsession’ and ‘ego dystonic’. A person is ego-dystonic when s/he constantly has unpleasant thoughts. For instance, I had a patient who felt like washing clothes a lot. She did not want to actually do the task but she just thought about it a lot. To make things more relatable, I believe you have seen people around you continuously washing their hands or starting to clean every time they are anxious. Most of it is because of their ego-dystonic thoughts. Getting these thoughts continuously can be considered an obsession.

This obsession makes a lot of people anxious, making them resort to the compulsive behavior of performing the same task again and again. It’s a way of relieving their anxiety. Having this behavior can be considered as having OCD. But that is not always the case. Only when your thoughts compel you to perform a task again and again for a momentary relief from anxiety, is it known to be OCD.

There is no definite way to diagnose OCD. You have to be aware of your thoughts, feelings, and emotions. And for that, you need to work with a mental health professional. But I have also seen many of my patients find their own way to deal with this compulsive behavior. You can find your way too. First, with the help of the above information that I gave you, try to figure out if you have OCD. There is a difference between being a perfectionist and having OCD but unfortunately no one can determine that better than you. Secondly, if you do feel like you have OCD, meditation is one of the ways to tackle this compulsive behavior. But for that, you have to visit a psychiatrist. Some people try to stop themselves from continuously performing a task, reducing it from being a compulsion and thus dealing with their issues and anxiety. But this can prove to be difficult on your own which is why seeking professional help might ultimately be the right course of action.