What's the difference between OCD and bad habits?

We studied mental disorders a while ago in health class, except we didn't go as much in depth as I'd have wanted to.

So, what is the difference between OCD and just plain old habits?

ie. Personally, I have encountered problems with this and still do. I used to open and close my bedroom windows repetitively every night because I'd feel.. unsatisfied if I didn't. If I touch a door knob/light switch with my left hand, I'd absolutely HAVE TO touch it with my right hand. I know it sounds weird, but there's just that weird force that says "YOU HAVE TO DO THIS.. OR ELSE!"

I don't think it's quite superstition so much, as a lot of people say, but I'd like an explanation for it.

(In addition, do people who have OCD eventually overcome it if they seek to? Is there some type of therapy/ect. for severe cases of OCD?)

What's the difference between OCD and bad habits?microsoft word 2003

Bad habits are not the type of thing you are having. They are more like saying a cuss word and then thinking "oh, man, I just did it again".

Or not washing your hands and not really caring if you do or not. Or wiping your nose on your sleeve, stuff you do or don't do, but aren't terribly upset about it.

Being OCD is being extremely upset if you don't do something. Like you said Feeling like you HAVE to do this.

So in a way, bad habits are almost the opposite from OCD.

It sounds like you have it to an extent. I have had some also, but don't anymore. Sometimes people can just "outgrow" the little rituals or extreme rigidness.

Others find it much harder and need therapy or the right medications to get over the compulsions.

What's the difference between OCD and bad habits?internet explorer 6 internet explorer

OCD, by definition, significantly interferes with the day-to-day social and/or occupational functioning of the sufferer. Compulsions (the behavioral piece of this disorder) typically take an hour or more to complete daily. The behaviors are recognized by the sufferer as unreasonable, and cause them great distress.

Bad habits, as you know, are very different from OCD.
It might be slight OCD. Iv'e got the EXACT same problem, and I'm so happy I'm not the only one. You get this voice in your head telling you to go do something, and it stays there until I do it. Your hands feel uneven. If you've pushed a door with one hand, touch it with the other so they're even, close the closet door/lights 4 times because it feels right.

People say it sounds like OCD but it's usually worse when I'm anxious.
OCD (obsesive compulsive disorder) is something that someone feals they have to do otherwise they get botherd and very destracted by it if they dont fix whatever it is. obsesive means the obsesion you have over something like for me its keaping my clothed organized compulsive/compulsion is the action you take to fix what you are obsesing over and calm you down so your obsesion wont annoy you. like me one of my little ocds is my clothes im obsesed with keeping my clothes organized so i compulsivly organize them to perfection color, shade, type.

a bad habbit is just one or two small things that annoy you like bitting your nails.

ocd takes over more than one small thing. with me i have to have my clothes, shoes, and jewlery organize by color and type and what not and on the chalk bord if there is a small spot not erased i can not consintrate on anything else untill it is gone if a picture is crooked even if its not in my house i have to fix it. i check my zipper everytime i walk into school even though i know its up. i can only use certin pens. i have to match perfictly for my shirt to belt to makeup to jewlery and shoes they have to be the same shade and thyme. ya i know im bad.

so if its just one or two small things you do most likely its not ocd