Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Do you wash your hands again and again, check the lock ten times, or get disturbing thoughts that horrify you — and feel you must do something to make the anxiety go away? OCD is a cycle of obsessions (unwanted, repeated thoughts, images or urges) and compulsions (actions or mental rituals done to reduce the anxiety) that take up more than an hour a day or cause great distress (ICD-11 6B20).
How common is it?
About 2–3 in 100 people over a lifetime. Half of all cases begin before age 19.
Who is at higher risk?
- Family history of OCD or tics
- Perfectionist, highly responsible personality
- Stressful life events
- Pregnancy and the months after childbirth
- Some children after strep throat infection
Signs & symptoms
- Contamination: fear of dirt, germs or impurity; excessive washing, bathing or cleaning
- Checking: doors, gas, switches, messages — again and again
- Order & symmetry: things must be "just right"; arranging, counting, repeating
- Unwanted thoughts: horrifying thoughts of harm, religious or sexual themes, followed by praying, mental checking or asking for reassurance
- Avoidance of anything that triggers the thoughts
What causes it?
Genes (about 40–50%), over-activity in brain circuits that detect "something is wrong," differences in serotonin, and beliefs like "If I think it, it might happen." Every ritual brings short relief — which makes the brain demand it again.
How to know if you are struggling — you may relate if…
- I know it doesn't make sense, but I can't stop until it feels right.
- I get terrible thoughts that go against everything I believe.
- My family has to follow my rules about cleaning.
How Mind Detox Centre helps
OCD severity assessment (Y-BOCS), then Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) — the gold-standard therapy — where you gradually face triggers without doing the ritual, supported by CBT and ACT. We also guide families to stop feeding the OCD cycle. Psychiatric referral for medication in moderate to severe OCD.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)
Do you spend hours checking the mirror, hiding a "flaw" in your skin, nose or hair that others say they can't even see? Body dysmorphic disorder is a painful preoccupation with perceived defects in appearance (ICD-11 6B21).
How common is it?
About 2 in 100 people; much higher among people seeking cosmetic procedures.
Who is at higher risk?
- Teens and young adults
- People teased about looks
- Perfectionists
- Heavy social media and filter users
Signs & symptoms
Mirror checking or avoiding mirrors, comparing, camouflaging with make-up or clothes, asking for reassurance, repeated cosmetic treatments, avoiding photos and outings.
What causes it?
Perfectionism, past teasing, social media comparison, and a brain that focuses on tiny details.
How to know if you are struggling — you may relate if…
- I cancel plans because of how I look.
- Even after treatment, I still see the flaw.
How Mind Detox Centre helps
CBT for BDD — exposure, reducing checking rituals, mirror retraining and self-compassion work.
Health Anxiety (Hypochondriasis)
A headache means a brain tumour; a skipped heartbeat means heart failure — and normal reports only calm you for a day? Health anxiety is a persistent fear of having a serious illness despite medical reassurance (ICD-11 6B23).
How common is it?
About 1–5 in 100 people.
Who is at higher risk?
- People who faced serious illness in themselves or family
- Anxious temperament
- Frequent online symptom searching
Signs & symptoms
Frequent body checking, repeated tests and doctor visits (or avoiding doctors completely), constant googling, little relief from normal results.
What causes it?
Misreading normal body sensations as danger, past illness experiences, and "cyberchondria."
How to know if you are struggling — you may relate if…
- My reports are normal, but what if they missed something?
How Mind Detox Centre helps
CBT for health anxiety — reducing checking and reassurance, behavioural experiments, and coordination with one trusted physician.
Frequently asked questions
Is being very clean the same as OCD?
No. OCD involves distressing, unwanted thoughts and rituals that take over an hour a day and interfere with life.
Do intrusive thoughts mean I'm a bad person?
No. Intrusive thoughts are common; in OCD they feel frightening precisely because they go against your values.
What is the best treatment for OCD?
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), a form of CBT, is the most effective psychological treatment.