Question

Before leaving her home, Margaret makes sure that every electrical appliance is unplugged and checks that every window and door is securely locked. She checks everything 17 times according to a strict ritual that she has worked out. If she misses one window, door, or appliance, she must begin all over again. If she tries to skip any step of the ritual, she experiences unbearable anxiety. In this example, Margaret's behavior of checking the locks and outlets are _____.

Answer 1

This behaviour is a clear sample of OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder), which is obsessive thoughts that lead to repetitive actions. For the people who suffer from this condition, life is pretty hard as everything has to be done perfectly and it is difficult for others to understand the way they see things and the reason why they do what they do to feel safe. The fact Margaret needs to make sure 17 times that everything is locked and secured is because this is the way she has found to feel safe.