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Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) involves obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are unwanted thoughts, images, urges or worries that can feel distressing and difficult to ignore. Compulsions are actions or mental rituals that a person feels driven to do in an attempt to relieve distress, feel more certain, or stop something bad from happening.
Read on to learn more about OCD, how it can affect different areas of life, and where to find support.
What do OCD symptoms look like?
Most people worry or double-check things from time to time. OCD is different because the thoughts and urges don't just pass by. They can feel persistent, take up a lot of time and energy, and make everyday things much harder. People with OCD can experience a number of different obsessions and compulsions. When a person experiences obsessive, unwanted thoughts, ideas, images or urges they are often unpleasant and can be highly distressing for the person, causing worry, guilt or shame.
Obsession symptoms
When a person experiences obsessions, particular unwanted thoughts, ideas, images or urges can get stuck in their mind. Common obsessions involve worrying about germs, getting sick, dying, bad things happening, or doing something wrong. Some people may also experience intrusive thoughts related to their faith, spirituality or values, such as fears about offending a religious figure or not following religious practices correctly.
Intrusive thoughts can be really unsettling. Having these thoughts doesn't mean you agree with them, want them to happen, or that they say anything about your character, beliefs or values.
People with OCD often recognise that these thoughts don't reflect who they are, what they want, or know to be true. Even so, the thoughts can feel very powerful, upsetting and difficult to let go of.
Compulsion symptoms
Compulsions are things a person feels driven to do over and over again. They might be actions that other people can see, or things that happen in your mind. Compulsions are usually an attempt to reduce distress, feel more certain, or stop something bad from happening.
There are many different types of compulsions, including:
- Washing or cleaning
- Repeating actions until they feel "just right"
- Doing things evenly or in a particular order
- Saying certain words or numbers
- Touching, counting or checking
- Praying or repeating thoughts silently
- Performing rituals in response to fears about faith, religion or spirituality
- Hoarding or collecting things
Compulsions are usually performed in an attempt to manage and make the obsessions go away. For example, if you are worried about germs, you might develop elaborate cleaning rituals, and if things aren't done perfectly you might think something terrible will happen. Someone experiencing intrusive thoughts related to their faith might feel compelled to pray repeatedly, seek reassurance, or perform rituals in a particular way to reduce distress or prevent something bad from happening.
Some compulsions include behaviours such as cleaning or blinking, but compulsions may not always be visible. These are sometimes called internal compulsions and may involve repetitive thought processes, such as repeating a word, phrase or prayer over and over in your head.
Obsessions and compulsions can take up a large amount of time and energy. They can cause significant distress and impact a person's ability to engage in daily activities such as study, work, relationships and other important parts of life.
How can OCD affect other areas of life?
OCD can take up a lot of time, energy and mental space. This can make it harder to focus on study, work, relationships, hobbies or other things that are important to you. Some people find themselves avoiding certain situations, places or activities because they trigger distressing thoughts or urges.
Living with OCD can also affect how you feel about yourself. You might feel frustrated, embarrassed, isolated or misunderstood, especially if the thoughts or behaviours don't make sense to other people. For some young people, OCD can also affect their connection with family, culture, community, faith or spirituality.
Anxiety is often a big part of OCD. Many people experience intense worry, fear, uncertainty or a strong feeling that something bad might happen. This can make obsessions feel more distressing and increase the urge to engage in compulsions. Some people with OCD also experience other challenges, such as depression, eating disorders, substance use issues, hoarding difficulties or tics (sudden movements or sounds such as blinking, throat clearing or facial movements).
While OCD can have a significant impact on daily life, treatments and supports are available. Many people find that, with support, OCD becomes easier to manage and has less impact on the things that matter most to them.
The causes of OCD
The causes of OCD are not fully understood, but it’s thought to be a combination of genetic and environmental factors. This might include someone in your family having OCD, or it might develop after experiencing stressful life events.
Getting support
Seeking help for OCD can feel like a big step. You might feel unsure about how to explain what's been happening, or worry about how other people will respond. If you can, consider sharing your experience with someone you trust, such as a friend, family member, Elder or another supportive person in your life.
A GP can also be a great place to start. They can listen to what's been going on, talk through support options, and help connect you with the care that's right for you. You can also access support through your local headspace centre or eheadspace.
There are effective treatments and supports available for OCD. Depending on your needs, this might include talking therapies, peer support, support groups, medication, or a combination of these. Many people find that, with the right support, OCD becomes easier to manage and has less impact on their daily life.
Further information
There are many resources you can look at to learn more about OCD. The links below have tips and ideas on how to identify the signs, as well as stories about how other young people manage their OCD symptoms.
- The Brain Scam – a young person’s journey with OCD
- Teen Mental Health Magazine: What is OCD? – A helpful guide for young people (Note this website contains links to overseas services. It should be used for information purposes only)
- ReachOut - ReachOut has a resource that offers practical advice for young people who want to know more about OCD and tools to help manage it.
For more information or support, visit eheadspace for online and phone support or find your nearest headspace centre.
The headspace Content Reference Group oversee and approve clinical resources made available on this website.
Last reviewed 21 July 2026
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