Two of the most commonly confused disorders are Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). One of the main reasons why is because they have symptoms that overlap which can make it more confusing to tell the difference. Many of times GAD worries are based off of reality whereas OCD worries are more bizarre, but this is not always the case, which is why it can make diagnosing these disorders correctly even harder. While both involve anxiety, they stem from different patterns of thought and behavior.
What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD):
GAD is characterized by persistent, excessive worry about a variety of everyday things—heath, jobs, family, friends, finances, and the future to give a few examples. The worries are hard for people to control and usually are bigger than what the situation actually is.
Common Symptoms of GAD:
- Constant worry about many different areas of life.
- Feeling restless, keyed up, or on edge
- Muscle tension, headaches, or feeling fatigued
- Trouble concentrating
- Trouble falling asleep and staying asleep
What Is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?
OCD is a disorder marked by obsessions (intrusive, unwanted thoughts, images, or urges) and compulsions (repetitive behaviors or mental acts done to relieve the anxiety caused by obsessions). OCD thoughts are often irrational, disturbing, and specific. Many of times if you have compulsions, they seem illogical (touching a door knob 5 times in a row before opening to prevent death) but the person feels that they just do it to prevent it. Often times people with OCD struggle with knowing that these compulsions are illogical but cannot stop themselves from doing them.
Common Symptoms of OCD:
- Obsessions of harming self or others, contamination, and perfectionism are a few examples.
- Compulsions such as checking, repeating, and washing hands
- Feeling temporary relief after doing a ritual or getting reassurance
- Avoidance of certain situations to prevent OCD symptoms
- Having insight that the thoughts are irrational but being powerless to control them or to control compulsions
Examples of the Difference between GAD and OCD
Let’s say two people are worried about their work performance.
- GAD: A teacher is worried they may miss deadlines, say something wrong to the class, or sending an email to a parent.
→ They might think about this for a while, with thoughts jumping to the different topics and talk to collogues about it to see what they think and possibly look for some reassurance to calm their anxiety. - OCD: The teacher is thinking of one specific issue: writing an email to a parent.
→ They might say they have to read the email 10 times before sending it or find one error and erase the whole email and re-do it. They may even not send it all all because it is not “perfect.”
Why Getting the Right Diagnosis Matters
One of the main reasons to get the diagnosis write is because they are treated in different ways. OCD is treated with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). GAD is treated with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Sometimes, people with OCD can benefit with some CBT but the main way to treat is with ERP.
Final Thoughts
Both GAD and OCD can be debilitating and significantly interfere with someone’s daily life. But both are very treatable with the right diagnosis and the right approach. If you or someone you know is struggling with GAD or OCD consider speaking to a therapist.
Remember: You’re not alone, and there’s no shame in getting help.