OCD

I just realized my old friend OCD is kicking again. Yep, I have OCD. I count when I walk, I keep all my stuff in a freakishly certain way, I wash my hands all the time, the works. Been like this on and off since childhood. Oh, but I had a normal childhood if you might ask. Never sexually harassed or anything. OCD from childhood sexual harassment? I don't think so. Been having compulsions for the past month, due to serious stress. No, you don't know what I mean serious stress. Only UPD Broadcast Comm. majors understand what it really means. Here's an overview by the way, thanks to MentalHealth

Diagnostic Criteria

1. Either obsessions or compulsions:

Obsessions as defined by (1), (2), (3), and (4):
1. recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses, or images that are experienced, at some time during the disturbance, as intrusive and inappropriate and that cause marked anxiety or distress
2. the thoughts, impulses, or images are not simply excessive worries about real-life problems
3. the person attempts to ignore or suppress such thoughts, impulses, or images, or to neutralize them with some other thought or action
4. the person recognizes that the obsessional thoughts, impulses, or images are a product of his or her own mind (not imposed from without as in thought insertion)

Compulsions as defined by (1) and (2):
1. repetitive behaviors (e.g., hand washing, ordering, checking) or mental acts (e.g., praying, counting, repeating words silently) that the person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession, or according to rules that must be applied rigidly
2. the behaviors or mental acts are aimed at preventing or reducing distress or preventing some dreaded event or situation; however, these behaviors or mental acts either are not connected in a realistic way with what they are designed to neutralize or prevent or are clearly excessive
2. At some point during the course of the disorder, the person has recognized that the obsessions or compulsions are excessive or unreasonable. Note: This does not apply to children.
3. The obsessions or compulsions cause marked distress, are time consuming (take more than 1 hour a day), or significantly interfere with the person's normal routine, occupational (or academic) functioning, or usual social activities or relationships.
4. If another Axis I disorder is present, the content of the obsessions or compulsions is not restricted to it (e.g., preoccupation with food in the presence of an Eating Disorder; hair pulling in the presence of Trichotillomania; concern with appearance in the presence of Body Dysmorphic Disorder; preoccupation with drugs in the presence of a Substance Use Disorder; preoccupation with having a serious illness in the presence of Hypochondriasis; preoccupation with sexual urges or fantasies in the presence of a Paraphilia; or guilty ruminations in the presence of Major Depressive Disorder).
5. The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition.

CREDITS

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, American Description, Diagnostic Criteria. Online URL: http://www.mentalhealth.com/dis1/p21-an05.html

(or something to that effect. Took this in formal writing class three years back, my memory about it is kind of fogged at the moment, thanks to my acads)