Does OCD Make You Feel Guilty & Can It Cause Mania?

OCD or obsessive-compulsive disorder is a condition in which irrational thoughts, ideas, desires, and repetitive, unreasonable behavior manifest themselves in a person. OCD interferes with your daily life significantly.⁽¹⁾

Does OCD Make You Feel Guilty?

If you have OCD, your brain may also produce excessive guilt and anxiety. The guilt may result due to the thoughts or obsessions of harming others or due to behaviour or compulsions of harming others. Most people find guilt to be intolerable and this in turn, leads to excessive anxiety. The anxiety might then make you attempt cleansing of your conscience, by using extreme means.⁽³⁾

Can OCD Cause Mania?

Studies indicate a solid association between OCD and mania or bipolar disorder. Many people with bipolar disorder or mania also have OCD. Most people with a mania also report that their OCD symptoms developed first. OCD is the commonest form of anxiety disorder seen in people with mania.⁽²⁾

Signs Of OCD

OCD, for the most part, produces symptoms for both-obsessions (thoughts) and compulsions (or actions). However, it might be conceivable that one may present with symptoms of either of the two. You may feel that your thoughts and actions are sensible and are innocuous. However, in all actuality, they may take up a lot of your time in everyday life and meddle fundamentally with your daily schedule.⁽⁴⁾

Signs Of Obsessions

Obsessions or fixations are undesirable and unnecessary reflections or want that is meddlesome. So as to dispose of these considerations, you may play out impulsive conduct or activity. These wants and contemplations, for the most part, present themselves when you strive to do or consider different things.

Fixations or obsessions are typically identified with a topic or theme. Like, you may have-

A dread or terror of contamination, pollution or infection
A need or want for things to be even or sorted out with a particular goal in mind
Rough thoughts that aim at hurting yourself or others
Bothersome thoughts and desires that may incorporate viciousness, sexual wants, and so forth.⁽⁴⁾

Signs Of Compulsions

Compulsions are such activities that you feel pushed to perform or do them. These activities are really intended to diminish or arrest the tension or anxiety caused because of the fixations. Nonetheless, playing out these demonstrations may relieve you of your nervousness just temporarily.

You may concoct a behavior or conduct that you feel may control your obsessions. Also, conducts probably won’t be practically associated with the obsession that you really feel.

Impulses are additionally identified with subjects, themes or topics. For example, you may feel like-

Cleaning or washing your hands immensely, until they become raw or sore
Checking repeatedly on things like the door handle or stove switch and so on.
Counting things over and over to ensure the score is correct or counting in a specific design or pattern
Having an efficiency or perfection to everything, even a slight deviation in the arrangement of cans and bottles can make you too irritated
Following a thorough or tough daily practice
Demanding consolations or guarantees over and over⁽⁴⁾

OCD is typically diagnosed in the adolescent or early grown-up years and is considered as a long-lasting condition. The seriousness of the symptoms may differ through life, however.

Complications Of OCD

OCD may result in many complications, including-

Health problems. Like developing a skin condition due to frequent, unnecessary hand washing
Inability or limitations in performing at work, school or other social activities
Problems in relationships
Diminishing quality of life
An increase in suicidal ideas and tendencies⁽⁴⁾

Conclusion

OCD can create a feeling of guilt that may be produced due to the thoughts and acts of harming others. Mania or bipolar disorder and OCD are also interrelated, according to many studies.

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Does OCD Make You Feel Guilty & Can It Cause Mania?