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Here are some things keep in mind/be aware of to be more informed about this disorder:
- Commonly, we use the term 'obsession' much more lightly than those with OCD understand it as. Obsessions in OCD are more serious. Everyone experiences strange/serious/repeating thoughts once in a while, but that doesn't mean you have OCD.
- Not all repetitive behavior can be called a compulsion. The difference is, people with OCD would rather not do the compulsion, but the reason have to is to escape the obsessions & lower anxiety. Whether behaviors if a compulsion of not depends on context.

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The symptoms are a cycle of obsessions and compulsions.
Obsessions:  They are disruptive thoughts/impulses/images (usually not making sense) that, out of the control of the affected person, repeat over and over. Obsessions can relate to...
- Contamination
- Loss of control
- Unwanted sexual thoughts
- Religion
- Harm
- Perfectionism

Compulsions: They are a temporary way of making obsessions go away/ neutralizing/ counteracting through repeating behaviors. Compulsions take time and often get in the way of life & personal values. They can be about washing & cleaning, checking, mental compulsions, and repeating. Some specific examples could be:
- Repeating activities in “multiples”
- Excessive cleaning or showering
- Doing a task a certain "safe" or "good" number of times.

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"History Of Treatment Of OCD - OCD Research - Stanford University School Of Medicine." Ocd.stanford.edu. N.p., 2017. Web. 2 Sept. 2017.

"Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) - Canadian Mental Health Association." Canadian Mental Health Association. N.p., 2017. Web. 2 Sept. 2017.

"What Is OCD?." International OCD Foundation. N.p., 2017. Web. 2 Sept. 2017.

IMAGES:
https://www.promises.com/resources/addictioniarticles/symptoms-signs-ocd/

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This disorder interferes with personal life & important aspects of life of the person who has it, such as work, school, and time with friends. It is very intrusive, time consuming, and even torturous. These are some ways of helping if you know a friend or family member with OCD:

- Don't try to argue with them about obsession/compulsions, because they know they don't make sense.
- Plan ahead in times of stress & happiness because they may need extra support.
-  Celebrate every improvement/step forward.

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Here are some of the cures:
Medication. They can only be prescribed by psychologists, social workers, or mental heath counselors. Antidepressants are among the common medications used for people with OCD. Usually, the therapist and medical professional work together to create the medication treatment plan.
ERP. This stands for 'Exposure and Response Prevention', and it is done by a medical professional. It requires visiting a therapist's office a certain amount of times a week.
CBT. Or Cognitive Behavior therapy. It teaches people how their thoughts, feeling, and behaviors are connected, as well as teaching problem-solving, stress management, relaxation, and thinking realistically.

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Who diagnoses? Only therapists.
How? By observing a person's behavior, such as if they go through obsessions and compulsions. It is important to consider whether it gets in the way of important activities in the person's life.

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Early mentions of OCD in the 17th century had to do with was was described as symptoms of religious melancholy. By the nineteenth century, obsessions could be distinguished from delusions. Gradually, in the twentieth century and onward, OCD was isolated as a disorder not part of other disorders. The history of OCD is long and gradual, and now in the twenty-first century, we have methods of treatment and much more awareness.

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OCD, or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, is a mental health disorder affecting 1 in 100 adults in the US, and 1/200 children. That is 500,000 children and 2-3 million adults in the USA. ("What Is OCD?")
Who is affected? Anyone can be affected by OCD, however it often starts ages 8-12 or in someone's late teens to early adulthood.
What causes OCD? It seems that OCD is partly caused by genes, although there is still much left unknown. It is also related the differences of the brain; specifically, problems with communication between the front & inner parts of the brain.