Symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a mental health condition that is marked by the presence of persistent, intrusive thoughts, which are referred to as obsessions, and repetitive behaviors or mental acts that the individual feels compelled to perform in response. These obsessions are typically distressing and unwanted, and the compulsions are meant to minimize that discomfort or prevent something feared from occurring, even when there’s no logical connection between the two. What makes OCD more severe than everyday worry or habit is the level of distress involved and the degree to which it can dominate thought patterns or routines.

The Dr. Katie Flanigan Landeros frequently works with individuals whose OCD takes many forms. Some experience fear related to harm, contamination worries, or doubts around safety or morality. Others may engage in checking, cleaning, counting, or reassurance-seeking rituals that can vary in complexity. While these patterns might seem illogical, they’re driven by fear or discomfort on the part of the individual and are often rooted in perfectionism, over-responsibility, or an intolerance for uncertainty. OCD, particularly when left untreated, can become progressively disruptive over time.

Symptoms of OCD can show up in many different ways, but they typically fall into two categories of obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are the persistent, unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that can feel difficult to ignore. These might include fears about contamination, harming others, losing control, or behaving in a socially unacceptable way. Compulsions are the behaviors or mental rituals performed to relieve the anxiety brought on by those thoughts, like excessive washing, checking, repeating actions, or mentally reviewing events. Even when the individual knows the behavior is irrational, it can still feel impossible to resist.

These symptoms tend to repeat, become time-consuming, and can shift or evolve into new patterns if untreated. It’s not uncommon for someone to begin with contamination fears and later develop intrusive moral or relational doubts. The details may change, but the cycle of distress and attempted relief remains. What makes OCD especially difficult is that the more an individual tries to suppress the thought through compulsions, the more entrenched the pattern ultimately becomes. That’s where evidence-based therapies, such as exposure and response prevention, can be particularly effective in breaking that cycle.

OCD symptoms can interfere significantly with a person’s ability to function in a number of ways, especially when compulsions become lengthy or when the obsessions cause constant mental distress. What begins as a few minutes of reassurance-seeking or ritual behaviors can escalate into hours lost to checking, researching, or avoiding situations that trigger the anxiety. Individuals may struggle to focus on tasks at work or college, maintain relationships, or engage in activities they once enjoyed. Even small decisions can become difficult when caught in a loop of obsessive doubt and fear of getting it wrong. Over time, untreated OCD can adversely affect routines as well as a person’s overall quality of life and emotional well-being. Fatigue, irritability, and self-judgment often follow, and many individuals begin to avoid situations they associate with distressing thoughts or compulsions. Dr. Katie Flanigan Landeros works with patients to identify how OCD is showing up in their daily lives, whether that’s through visible rituals or internal avoidance, and develop a treatment plan that helps restore their time, energy, and confidence.

If the thoughts, urges, or behaviors associated with OCD are starting to interfere with education, work, relationships, or daily routines, it’s imperative for individuals to reach out for professional help. However, individuals do not need to wait until they are in times of crisis to seek care. The distress caused by OCD can be significant even when the rituals seem small, and early treatment is often more manageable than waiting until symptoms grow more intense. Dr. Katie Flanigan Landeros offers individualized care for those living with OCD, including targeted therapies such as exposure and response prevention. These methods are designed specifically to reduce the power of intrusive thoughts without reinforcing compulsive behaviors. Whether symptoms have just started or have been ongoing for years, working with a qualified professional can provide the tools needed to break the cycle and regain a sense of stability and self-trust.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) treatment is available at Dr. Flanigan Landeros OCD & Psychological Services. For more information, contact us or schedule an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 400 Continental Blvd FL 6, Suite A El Segundo, CA 90245. We serve patients from El Segundo CA, Santa Monica CA, Inglewood CA, Gardena CA, Torrance CA, Hawthorne CA, Culver City CA, Westmont CA, West Los Angeles CA and surrounding areas.