Classification of OCD

What is an obessession?

Obessessions are recurrent intrusive thoughts or impulses that are percieved as inappropraite or forbidden. These thoughts produce anxiety because their content is quite unlike the thoughts that the person usually has.    Obessessions are percieved as uncontrollable, and the sufferer often fears that they will lose control and act upon these obesessions.

What is a compulsion?

Compulsions are repetitive behaviours or mental acts that reduce the anxiety that accompanies and obessession on prevent some dreaded event from happening. Most people with OCD recognise that their compulsions are unreasonable, but also believe that something terrible will happen if they dont perform the behaviour or mental act.