Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a complex experience that has an important level of interference in the person’s daily life.
It is frequent for everyone to experience both obsessions and compulsive behaviors without this fact being a possible pathology factor (would you write without any trouble “I wish that X will die”).
Therefore, these are normal states of mind but when they are associated to a dysfunctional belief system about the obsession – compulsion the person begins to manifest discomfort and suffering.
The course of OCD is usually insidious, variable and with a tendency to become chronic, and consequently, it can significantly affect the functioning of the person in different areas of life.
The usual causal factors are related to stressors that appear acutely or when the person is subjected to a stressful life situation for a long time.
It has been observed that important changes in the person’s life such as maternity / paternity, a pathological grieving process, or some traumatic event can lead to the activation of cognitive patterns typical of OCD. This often will be obsessions or compulsions that will be considered as being necessary for the well-being of loved ones (e.g. if I do X then my son will be safe) or that will have an impact on the risk of a dangerous event (e.g. If I don’t do X then my mother will die).