3.1 Describe the feelings an individual may have when experiencing OCD

This guide will help you answer 3.1 Describe the feelings an individual may have when experiencing OCD.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterised by intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviours or mental rituals (compulsions). Individuals with OCD often experience a range of intense and overwhelming feelings. These can significantly impact their daily life, relationships, and emotional well-being.

This guide will look at some of the key feelings an individual experiencing OCD may have. The focus will remain on how these feelings manifest, using simple language to provide a clear understanding.

Anxiety and Fear

Anxiety and fear are some of the most common emotions individuals with OCD experience. The obsessive thoughts are often distressing and create a sense of fear about possible harm or negative outcomes. For example:

• Someone with a fear of contamination may feel intense anxiety that touching an object will make them or others dangerously ill.
• Another person may fear they unintentionally caused harm, such as leaving an appliance on, and feel overwhelmed with worry about the potential consequences.

This anxiety can feel constant or sudden, lasting until the person performs a compulsion to temporarily relieve the fear. The cycle of obsession and compulsion reinforces the anxiety, making it hard to break free.

Shame and Embarrassment

Many people with OCD feel ashamed or embarrassed about their obsessions and compulsions. They might worry about being judged or viewed as “different” by others. These feelings can occur for reasons such as:

• Compulsions that others don’t understand, like needing to check things repeatedly or organising items in a specific way.
• Seeing their thoughts as irrational but being unable to stop them.
• Feeling they are “losing control” over their mind or actions.

Shame can lead individuals to hide their symptoms, avoid social situations, or keep their struggles private. This behaviour can make them feel isolated and unsupported.

Frustration and Helplessness

Living with OCD can feel deeply frustrating. Individuals might feel trapped in a repetitive cycle of obsessions and compulsions, unable to resist the urge to act on them. They may often express:

• Frustration at the time and energy their compulsions take up.
• Helplessness over feeling unable to stop their obsessive thoughts, despite wanting to.
• Annoyance that trying to suppress the compulsions can sometimes make the obsessions feel stronger.

This constant battle between wanting to stop and feeling unable to can lead to feelings of hopelessness over time.

Guilt

Guilt can be a strong emotional experience for someone with OCD. The intrusive nature of obsessive thoughts often includes distressing or taboo content, such as violent or inappropriate thoughts. Although these thoughts do not reflect the person’s actual beliefs or intentions, they may feel guilt for even having the thought.

For example:

• A parent with OCD might feel guilty for intrusive thoughts about accidentally hurting their child.
• An individual with religious OCD (also called scrupulosity) may feel intense guilt about thoughts they consider morally wrong or sinful.

These feelings of guilt can increase the person’s need to perform compulsions to “undo” the thought or prevent harm, perpetuating the cycle.

Sadness and Depression

OCD can lead to feelings of sadness or depression, particularly if the condition is severe or lasts a long time. Someone dealing with OCD might feel:

• Sadness over the time they’ve lost to their compulsions.
• Hopelessness about recovery or improvement.
• Loneliness if they feel nobody understands their experience.

Depression often develops when OCD disrupts daily functioning, work, or relationships. The two conditions can overlap, amplifying negative emotions.

Confusion

Individuals with OCD may feel confused by their thoughts or actions. This confusion often comes from:

• Struggling to understand why they’re having intrusive thoughts.
• Knowing their obsessions aren’t logical but feeling powerless to resist them.
• Questioning their own intentions and morality repeatedly due to the doubts caused by OCD.

This confusion can make them feel detached from their own mind, further increasing stress and feelings of unease.

Irritability and Anger

OCD can make a person feel irritable or angry, both with themselves and those around them. For example:

• Compulsions taking up large amounts of time can lead to anger about missed opportunities and restrictions on daily life.
• Feeling pressured by others who don’t understand the condition can increase irritability.
• Frustration with their inability to control the obsessive thoughts can also make them lash out verbally or emotionally.

These feelings can strain relationships and add to the emotional toll on the person.

Relief (Temporary)

Performing compulsions might give a momentary feeling of relief. For instance:

• A person who checks locks repeatedly may feel brief reassurance that they’ve prevented a break-in.
• Another individual who engages in cleaning rituals may feel temporarily “safe” from contamination.

While this relief is short-lived, it reinforces the cycle of OCD, as they come to rely on compulsions to manage their emotions.

Exhaustion

OCD can leave individuals feeling mentally and physically tired. The constant battle with intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviours uses significant energy, often leading to:

• Trouble sleeping due to obsessive thinking.
• Fatigue from spending hours completing rituals and compulsions.
• Feeling “drained” emotionally after dealing with an anxiety-provoking situation.

This exhaustion can contribute to a reduced quality of life and emotional resilience.

Self-Doubt

OCD frequently causes individuals to doubt themselves and their actions. This self-doubt may stem from:

• Constantly questioning whether they’ve completed a task properly (e.g., locking a door, turning off an appliance).
• Feeling unsure of whether their thoughts are “real” or accurate.
• Second-guessing their own morality or intentions due to their intrusive thoughts.

Living with this ongoing uncertainty can make decision-making challenging and amplify feelings of insecurity.

Loneliness and Isolation

OCD can make people feel disconnected from others. They may isolate themselves due to:

• Fearing judgement if others notice their compulsive behaviours.
• Avoiding situations that trigger their obsessions.
• Feeling that nobody understands what they’re going through.

Loneliness can worsen their mental health and increase the risk of depression.

Hope (Occasionally)

Although OCD can overwhelm emotions negatively, some individuals may feel occasional hope. With the right support, therapy, and treatment, people with OCD may believe they can regain control, even if they experience setbacks. Holding on to this hope can help motivate them to seek help or persist with recovery strategies.

How Support Workers Can Help

Support workers play an important role in helping individuals with OCD manage these feelings. Ways to help include:

• Listening empathetically to understand the person’s struggles fully.
• Avoiding judgement of their behaviours or thoughts.
• Providing reassurance while encouraging access to appropriate treatments, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) or medication.
• Supporting them in following a care plan created with professionals.

Clear communication and patience can go a long way in helping someone with OCD feel less overwhelmed and more supported.

Summary of Feelings Associated With OCD

Experiencing OCD often involves a mix of emotions that affect mental well-being and daily life. These include anxiety, shame, guilt, sadness, and frustration. Physical and emotional exhaustion is common, and isolation can worsen the person’s sense of hopelessness. Temporary relief may occur after compulsions but often cycles back into anxiety.

Understanding these feelings helps support workers provide compassionate care. It can also guide them in encouraging individuals to explore therapeutic options, enabling them to build positive coping strategies over time.