Obsessive-compulsive disorder: A psychiatric disorder characterized by obsessive thoughts and compulsive actions, such as cleaning, checking, counting, or hoarding. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), one of the anxiety disorders, is a potentially disabling condition that can persist throughout a person's life. The individual who suffers from OCD becomes trapped in a pattern of repetitive thoughts and behaviors that are senseless and distressing but extremely difficult to overcome. OCD occurs in a spectrum from mild to severe, but if severe and left untreated, can destroy a person's capacity to function at work, at school, or even in the home.
The obsessions are unwanted ideas or impulses that repeatedly well up in the mind of the person with OCD. Persistent fears that harm may come to self or a loved one, an unreasonable concern with becoming contaminated, or an excessive need to do things correctly or perfectly, are common. Again and again, the individual experiences a disturbing thought, such as, "My hands may be contaminated--I must wash them"; "I may have left the gas on"; or "I am going to injure my child." These thoughts are intrusive, unpleasant, and produce a high degree of anxiety. Sometimes the obsessions are of a violent or a sexual nature, or concern illness.
In response to their obsessions, most people with OCD resort to repetitive behaviors called compulsions. The most common of these are washing and checking. Other compulsive behaviors include counting (often while performing another compulsive action such as hand washing), repeating, hoarding, and endlessly rearranging objects in an effort to keep them in precise alignment with each other. Mental problems, such as mentally repeating phrases, listmaking, or checking are also common. These behaviors generally are intended to ward off harm to the person with OCD or others. Some people with OCD have regimented rituals while others have rituals that are complex and changing. Performing rituals may give the person with OCD some relief from anxiety, but it is only temporary.
Taken from: medterms.com
This is an interesting documentry that showcases two cases of OCD. One is a girl who MUST check if her doors are locked, and the other girl who must check if everything is switched off. Unlike what "somebody" said last night, the difference between OCD and careful people lies in the compulsive nature.
It is possible that a flight engineer is obsessed with perfection, but he is not compulsive. As mentioned earlier, compulsive would mean that the person just has to do something over and over again. Having an obsession with a clean and neat table, may not make you an OCD. Most people with OCD have rituals to follow, they get VERY upset and emotionally distraught when the ritual is disrupted. For example, if the only sink in the house breaks down for a hand-washing OCD, she may plunge into panic and depression. In severe cases, suicide is even possible.
This isn't the most accurate OCD video ever, but I would like you to focus on the ritualistic aspects of his OCD. Ignore the neat geek phenomenon. He does everything in sets of three, and when the key broke. He just panicked, he was distraught over the broken key.
OCD is a very common disorder, but most people have it in mild levels. Please do not confuse it with pet peeves. For me, I must have a clean floor and I will obsessively check if the taps are closed before I can go to bed. It normally worsens when I'm stressed. I can get up 4 to 5 times a night to check if the tap is fully closed. I would get up in the middle of the night to clean my room floor if the little voice told me it wasn't clean enough. Thankfully, I got over it. I can control the compulsions now.
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