Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish between OCD and phobia. There is a feeling that most people with anxiety have a confusion – if you spend all your time worrying about panic attacks, or finding spiders, or meeting someone on the street, then you will be somehow obsessed. You can say that behaviors such as constantly checking the spiders in the room or crossing the road to avoid meetings can be mandatory.

But OCD has an additional dimension, the link between obsessive-compulsive disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. People with obsessive-compulsive disorder usually have a strong feeling that they need to be forced, otherwise they will have some terrible consequences, and almost always they feel that they must be forced in some way, such as a ritual.

So if you are afraid of spiders, you need to check every room, then you have phobia. If you feel that getting a spider into the room can cause misfortune or harm to yourself or your family, if you check the room in the same way every time, then you have obsessive-compulsive disorder. Similarly, people who are concerned about safety at home may scrutinize whether they have locked the door, and those with obsessive-compulsive disorder may repeatedly check, lock and unlock.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder can exist with other anxiety disorders, such as social and health phobias, as well as depression.

Post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD]

This is due to exposure to danger or abuse. It is classified as an anxiety disorder, although it involves events that have occurred in the past, rather than concerns about what might happen in the future. Most people who have experienced traumatic events such as road/railway/aviation accidents or violent incidents may expect at least some disturbing physical and emotional reactions associated with shock and terror.

Usually these are short-lived. Family and friend support, as well as possible short-term professional help, are usually enough to help them complete. Few people continue to develop post-traumatic stress disorder, and they still have a strong response for a long time. They often feel that they are being traumatized and unable to return to normal life.

Post-traumatic stress disorder requires professional treatment, so we do not recommend trying self-help.

Children and adolescents

For children, although they may have many of the same characteristics as adult anxiety disorders, it is not recommended to try a self-help approach without advice.

Most children go through various stages when they are feared by certain things – these are part of their normal development and are usually outdated. If the problem does exist beyond the expected age or causes a serious disruption in the child's daily life and relationships, some professional help and guidance may be required.

Appropriate assessments are recommended, taking into account the child's general health, overall development, and any factors that may contribute to the family or the environment.

Keep anxious diary

It's time to take out your notebook and start writing your diary. Anxiety diary is a simple record of everyday anxiety. The important thing is that you write down your anxiety score at least twice a day, but you don't have to try to explain every minute of the day. But don't leave it until the end of the week and try to remember everything, because you won't remember it is not accurate enough.

Even if you do this every day, you will find that you tend to record bad times and ignore the relatively good times. It is important to learn to assess your anxiety by rating. To be honest, only you will see the diary.

Understanding the difference between obsessive-compulsive disorder and phobia was originally published on Spring