Do i have OCD

Hi,

I'm 19 years old and i recently have been through some very stressful situations in my life. The problem i'm experiencing began when i was 14. My parents had just divorced and I felt a loss of control, I suddenly felt this high stress about my hands and dirt touching them. However at the same time that this began to happen, I had just learned about OCD and I was really interested in how it worked, so sometimes I wonder if i made myself develop compulsions. Regardless...when things with my parents settled down and life sorted itself out, the compulsion to wash my hands died down a lot and I had control over the thoughts. What concerns me is how I am now...after a fairly traumatic series of events, I slowly began to develop more stress about things that make no sense. I feel like my hands have to feel clean at all times, my hair needs to be washed, preferably twice a day and inspected all the time for grease. Sometimes I have to shower right after I just showered because I feel like it's still dirty. I have to check the locks on my car doors (lock twice, check twice) every time and my room has to be in a perfect state of organization or i can't sleep or function at all in it. All these things, I know they are compulsive and i recognize that I have a lot of signs of OCD, but at the same time, I can control it for the most part, it's just easier not to because I don't like to feel like i'm going to have a heart attack. I mean, I do recognize that it's compulsive and silly, but sometimes I feel like i'm going to die, like if sauce or something falls on my hands, it's a stress fest.

anyways,

Ideas?

allie

[aquamarine_moon]

Hey Allie -
Sounds like pretty typical OCD and it sounds like you are asking the right questions and keeping track of your behaviors.  There is nothing saying you need to be medicated or treated in any way if you don't want to be.  If you feel your symptoms are manageable, then there is no reason.  
That being said, if the obsessions and compulsions become so stressful that it is really impacting your quality of life, it might be worth checking it out with a psychologist.  For most people (myself included), OCD is an outward manifestation of the feelings of dyscontrol I have on the inside.  I had some family issues and after working with a psychologist, I found out that I was actually pretty hurt and angry (but was denying it to myself).  After some therapy, I began to get a handle of the emotions - allowed myself to really feel them (instead of stressing about "Did I turn the curling iron off??") and over time, my OCD symptoms lessened.  
Also - remember that OCD is an anxiety disorder, affected by cortisol and serotonin - an anti-depressant could do wonders!  
Good luck to you and know that you are not alone.

[alliesong]

Hey,

thanks for your advice

[aquamarine_moon]

Anytime - keep me posted!