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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a type of anxiety disorder. You may have heard someone say that they are a bit OCD because they are very house-proud or tidy, but the reality of this disorder is a lot more complex. OCD has two main parts. The first being the obsessions, which may include unwelcome thoughts, images, urges, worries or doubts that repeatedly appear in the individual's mind. The second part is the compulsion which is repeated activities that the person feels they need to do to reduce the anxiety caused by the obsession. It is not clear exactly what causes OCD, but a number of different factors may play a role in the condition. Some people with OCD have areas of unusually high activity in their brain or low levels of serotonin and for many, it can be hereditary.

OCD may be caused by life experience, for example, because of bullying, abuse or neglect. It could also be triggered by bereavement or be down to personality. Individuals who are meticulous and methodical and have very exacting personal standards are more likely to develop OCD. Signs that a co-worker has OCD may include repeated actions, which could be checking locks, checking that the lights or appliances have been turned off, repeated washing of hands or washing of hands a set number of times. An Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can be very frightening for the individual. Living with OCD can be difficult. In addition to getting medical help, you might find it helps to contact a support group for information and advice. Sites that may be a useful source of support include No Panic, a charity offering support for those experiencing panic episodes and OCD. They provide courses to help individuals overcome these issues. And their website address is nopanic.org.uk. Support and information for people with OCD is also available at ocdaction.org.uk. As well as these, OCD-UK is a charity run by people with OCD for others with the condition and their web address is ocduk.org. We have compiled a list of organisations who offer advice and guidance for a range of mental health issues and this is available to download from the resources section of this course.