In order to get rid of this unpleasant feeling of anxiety caused by the Obsession, a person will do a Compulsion. This a conscious behavior that may be physical, like washing or checking. Or it may be mental, like reciting a prayer in your head or remembering something a certain way. A Compulsion may also involve avoidance. Someone who avoids throwing things away, or avoids leaving the house because it takes so long to check the appliances is doing a Compulsion.
Compulsions are the conscious behaviors that one chooses to do in order to feel comfortable.
Doing the Compulsion provides relief of the anxiety until the next Obsession occurs. You may know from experience, however, that the relief from doing a Compulsion is temporary. One may also notice that doing the Compulsion often provides inadequate relief. By that we mean that a person may find themselves doing the Compulsion more times or more aggressively in order to get the same relief. In order to gain control of OCD and break the cycle of this disorder, it is very important to be aware of what your Obsessions are and what your Compulsions are.