Are Unwanted Thoughts A Symptom Of OCD?

Posted on Sat, 20 Jun 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 20 Jun 2015 Answered on

Tue, 7 Jul 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : Are unwanted thoughts OCD?
A member of my family has OCD.
Unwated thoughts like seeing a knife and imagining what happens if you used it and nasty thought that enters and then goes?

Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
These thoughts can be labelled as Obsessions

Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM for your health related queries

I can understand your concern. If we go by definition of an Obsession then this is nothing but recurrent, repetitive, repugnant, dominating, distressing thought that persist in mind and is usually purpose less. In order to get rid of distress caused by obsession individuals do ritualistic behaviours which are called compulsions.

You have unwanted thoughts like on seeing a knife imagining that what will happen if you use it and this is uncontrollable thought. This can be labelled as obsession. But that doesn't mean that you have OCD. In OCD individuals have persisting obsessions and these produce impairment in social, personal and occupational functioning.

You have family history of OCD so best thing that can be done in such case is to get rid of these thoughts. Try to relax yourself and do relaxation exercises. With exercises your thoughts will reduce and you will not develop OCD.

Thanks, I hope this helps you. Take care

Please feel free to ask again for more doubts.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar