What's OCD? Here's what you need to know

In the wake of comments slamming a retailer in England for selling pajamas that read, ā€œObsessive Christmas Disorder,ā€ itā€™s clear that the inspiration behind it ā€” obsessive compulsive disorder ā€” is off limits jokewise. But what exactly is the mental illness, and how can it be treated?

Ali Mattu, a clinical psychologist in New York City, has the answers. ā€œReal OCD is a disorder that results in people having a lot of limitations around what they can do,ā€ Mattu tells Yahoo Lifestyle, noting that the disorder can bring a variety of symptoms. Among them are: ā€œneeding symmetry or needing things to be positioned or placed in a certain way, fear of contamination, and fixation on words or letters.ā€

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 1.2 percent of adults experienced OCD in the last year, more than half of whom reported their impairment as ā€œserious.ā€ Although the condition can be debilitating, Mattu says there are ways to lessen its effects.

ā€œThere are two effective forms of treatments,ā€ he says. ā€œExposure and response prevention treatment, which is a therapy that helps people to be in a situation that produces the obsessive thoughts and then not engage in the rituals. Thatā€™s the most effective psychotherapy for OCD. And then there are a number of medications available that can also help people reduce OCD symptoms. For someone in a more severe category of OCD, we often combine therapy and medication to create an effective treatment.ā€

Getting treatment is an important step for those living with serious OCD, but breaking down the stigma is too. Mattu notes the importance of looking at the big picture. ā€œFrom Howard Hughes to Lena Dunham, a lot of people who are amazing at what they do have spoken about having OCD. There is hope. There are effective treatments,ā€ he says. ā€œThere is so much you can do to help you better understand your OCD and better manage these symptoms.ā€

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