What is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder -OCD

OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER -OCD Meaning

OCD or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, is defined as a condition in which the sufferer has uncontrollable thoughts or behaviors that may or may not be harmful to self or others. Many a times, these compulsions are for minor activities such as washing hands or checking locks etc. The person always feels an urge to repeat the act over and over again.¹

Ayurveda has described the manas (mind) and its vishayas (i.e. the areas of handling) in details. Many manasika rogas (Psychological conditions) are described in the classics, where there is an absolute impairment of manas (mind), budhi (cognition), samjnaa jnaana (orientation), smriti (memory), bhakti (desire), sheela (habits), cheshta (action), achara (rituals) etc. either individually or as a whole. OCD is a deviation of the manasika bhaavas like dhee, dhriti etc. in a manner that extent that affects day to day life.²

It can be correlated with the entity Atatvabhinivesha. ‘Atatva’ means ‘non-existent’, abhinivesha means ‘stubborn’ nature or ‘strict adherence’. So Atatvabhinivesha collectively refers as a ‘condition where the person believes in all the factors which does not exist or which are in fact not correct’. Or everytime the individual will be in confusion to accept the truth.³