In order to increase their effectiveness, more time may be spent on these compulsions, or they may need to be performed under special rules and conditions. At some point, normal living is interrupted, with the person spending more and more time quelling anxiety. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a biological illness. It exists within the Orthodox community as well as in the community at large. It is a disorder that is reported more often among the upper classes of society and in those of higher intelligence.
Symptoms can start in childhood, but they tend to intensify in adolescence and early adulthood.
They wax and wane, and they are more pronounced during periods of stress. Untreated, the condition is chronic. It will not go away, and it can become debilitating as it worsens with time. When successfully treated, a person with OCD can have a significant reduction in symptoms and can lead a normal, functional, happy life. Unfortunately, failure to avail oneself of treatment can result in complete dysfunction and the inability to have a normal life.