Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental illness that follows a pattern of unwanted thoughts and fears (obsessions) that lead you to do something over & over again (compulsions). Some people can have both obsessions & compulsions and these obsessions and compulsions interfere with daily activities and cause significant distress.

You may try to ignore or stop your obsessive thoughts, but that only increases your distress and anxiety. Ultimately, you feel the urge to perform compulsive acts to try to ease your stress. Despite efforts to ignore or get rid of bothersome urges or thoughts, they keeps on coming back. This leads to more ritualistic behavior — the vicious cycle of OCD.