The holidays are the time many people meticulously clean the house
and fastidiously prepare large tasty meals. Both of these
activities can seem obsessive or compulsive, but neither is
considered medically significant. However, for some, these
obsessions and compulsions last all year.
Anal retentive (anal) is used to describe a person who pays such
attention to detail that the obsession becomes an annoyance to
others, and potentially to the detriment of the anal-retentive
person. Traits include orderliness, stubbornness, a compulsion for
control, as well as a generalized interest in collecting,
possessing, and retaining objects. Those who are anal can take
pleasure in organizing and re-organizing, in keeping things neat
and in their proper place.
Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) people can have obsessions,
compulsions, or both. OCD is a mental illness. Usually the person
has a feeling that they are staving off unspecified doom, such as
"Something terrible will happen if I don't wash my hands exactly
seven times and tap my toes in rhythm." The acts of those who have
OCD may appear paranoid and potentially psychotic. However, people
with OCD generally recognize their obsessions and compulsions as
irrational and may become further distressed by this realization.
Those who have OCD suffer extreme distress from a disruption in
their routine.
Obsessions are intrusive thoughts that produce uneasiness,
apprehension, fear, or worry. If the obsession is with a certain
activity, performing it, or thinking about performing it later
does not relieve the stress, pressure, or obsession. We all have
things that distract us from our daily businesses, but those with
true obsessions try to make them go away with no success.
Compulsions are repetitive behaviors that a person must perform,
such as checking to make sure the front door is locked, organizing
items in groups of arbitrary size, or keeping things in a specific
order or position. Compulsions are aimed at reducing the
associated anxiety. Most often these rituals become not just a
part of daily life, but the person feels that they must repeat
them every day in order to keep something horrible from happening.
Bottom line - If you must get things done perfectly and
meticulous, you might be anal, but if you must get things done
perfectly and meticulous or you will be continuously and
seriously agitated and upset, you could have OCD.