Resources: Anxiety and OCD

Anxiety is the experience of a sense/feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease. It can show up in the form of distressing thoughts (e.g. overthinking, difficulty concentrating, etc.); emotions (e.g. feeling irritable, worried, afraid, etc.); and/or physical sensations (e.g. chest tightness, muscle tension, frequent bathroom use, etc.)

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OCD, or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, is among the top 10 most debilitating conditions in the world; and is primarily centered around two symptoms: Obsessions, or ongoing and unwanted intrusive thoughts, feelings, images, and/or urges that cause intense fear, anxiety, disgust, doubt, or shame; and Compulsions, or repetitive or ritualistic behaviors that are aimed at relieving the feelings brought up by the obsessions.

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The key difference between anxiety and OCD, is that intrusive thoughts are ego-dystonic, meaning that the thoughts and compulsions experienced or expressed are not consistent with the individual's self-perception, meaning the person realizes the obsessions are unreasonable and are often distressed by their obsessions.

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