Question

Distinguish between obsessions and compulsions.

Answer 1

Points	Obsessions	Compulsions
What are they?	They are thoughts, ideas, and impulses.	They are actions.
What do they do?	They cause unwanted feelings, anxiety, and distress.	They are performed to cope with obsessions.
Relation	They lead to compulsions. (Cause)	They result due to obsessions. (Effect)
Disruption	They disrupt mental well-being.	They disrupt physical well-being.
Repetition	Repetition in thoughts, ideas, and impulses.	Repetition in actions.
Themes	Contamination: Fear of contracting something, like dirt, germs, chemicals, etc.E.g. Shaking hands with others thinking, ‘Did I contract germs from them?’	Washing or cleaning: Because of the excessive fear they wash and clean themselves, excessively. And sometimes to the point of being ritualistic in nature.
	Unintentional harm to self or others: Fear of harming themselves or others through negligence.E.g., ‘What if I didn’t lock the doors properly?’	Checking: Because of the excessive fear of burglary they would check doors, and locks, to make sure everything is fine.
	Symmetry: A need to have items or things in a specific order and symmetry. E.g. Aligning clothes in a certain way, for example in colour, or facing a certain direction.	Counting, tapping, and touching objects. Compulsions involved here would be counting, tapping, and touching objects in a particular way or at particular times.

Because obsessions are repetitive ideas and thoughts that are unwanted in nature causing distress and anxiety, Compulsions are carried out to make individuals feel safer. These compulsions end up being ritualistic and repetitive to reduce the stress but if the ritual is disrupted they would harness an unrealistic fear (obsession) as they didn’t complete the ritual. Culminating into a vicious cycle,