What it can feel like
- Knowing a fear may not make sense but still being unable to dismiss it
- Checking, washing, arranging, counting, repeating, reviewing, or confessing
- Seeking reassurance that only helps briefly
- Avoiding people, objects, places, or responsibilities that trigger the cycle
What an evaluation considers
A clinician considers time consumed, distress, avoidance, insight, functional impact, tics, depression, anxiety, and whether a belief is an intrusive fear or a fixed conviction.
First steps
Notice the obsession-anxiety-ritual-relief loop, avoid adding new reassurance rituals, and seek a clinician trained in exposure and response prevention.