Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a condition where a person has obsessions or compulsions.

Compulsions are behaviours where one feels forced to do, to relieve distress related to the obsession. For example, some may feel the need to wash their hands over and over again to feel less anxious about being contaminated.

Obsessions are distressing thoughts or images that won’t go away. For example, one may worry about being dirty or contaminated.

Researchers believe that OCD happens when people don’t have enough serotonin (a brain chemical or neurotransmitter) in the brain. Many things can contribute to OCD, like family history, stress, and in rare cases, a bacterial infection, usually a streptococcus or ‘strep’ infection.