Hi everyone, I actually have a question about OCD. I was wondering how long do the symptoms have to be present, in order for it to be considered as a disorder as opposed to it just being part of anxiety. Like how if you have anxiety for six months or more it’s considered to be part of GAD and if you have been depressed for more than two weeks, it’s actually clinical depression, etc. I hope that makes sense, if not please let me know if I have to clarify.

For it to be classified as a disorder it honestly depends on the severity of it. How much distress it causes you, interference with your daily life, etc. I don’t think OCD would ever be considered just as part of anxiety. OCD is not just anxiety. OCD doesn’t usually just go away on its own once you have it... so I don’t think the time frame necessarily matters for this disorder. It’s also worth mentioning that most people with this disorder don’t get help for a considerable amount of time after they start experiencing symptoms.

i have GAD and OCD, it’s possible to have both.

Agreed with Pineapple... I was misdiagnosed a few times with GAD... because it’s often misunderstood and/or we hide it well. When I suffered from pocd symptoms, I didn’t feel I could share those thoughts. One of the big separations of ocd and anxiety is, while ocd can cause anxiety, there are obsessions and typically compulsions involved as well. Repetitive thoughts, feeling urges to do something in order to relieve or avoid those thoughts, there are many symptoms... I suggest going to iocdf.org to learn more and see if you can relate... good luck!

I was diagnosed with severe GAD with ocd tendencies when I was a child. Idk if that was right then or not I think maybe I had difficulty conveying how I felt. Now diagnosed with OCD (not tendencies) and depression, though I still have anxiety that isn’t directly related to ocd.

^^^ same ?