Checking the Gas Again

Rukmini Iyer, thirty-four, an accountant in Chennai, used to be easy-going. In the past year she began checking the gas stove before leaving home. At first once, then five times, then until her hands ached. If she lost count, she started again. She was often late for work. A thought would pop in: 'what if the house burns and it is my fault?' She knew it was unlikely, but the dread was unbearable until she checked.

She hid it. Relatives joked she was 'a bit particular'. Inside, she was exhausted and ashamed. She also washed her hands until they cracked, and avoided touching door handles. Her husband Anand noticed that she woke early just to do her rituals.

One morning, after being forty minutes late to an important meeting, she cried in the office stairwell. Her colleague suggested a doctor. The psychiatrist explained that this was obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): unwanted, frightening thoughts called obsessions, and rituals called compulsions that give brief relief but keep the cycle going. It is not a weakness or a lack of willpower.

Treatment involved a form of talking therapy where she gradually faced the fear without performing the ritual, with a trained therapist guiding each small step, and, as the psychiatrist judged appropriate, medicine. Progress was slow but real. 'Now I check once, and I let the thought pass,' she said. 'I still have the thought, but it no longer gives the orders.'

How to recognise it

Repeated unwanted thoughts, images or urges that cause strong fear, doubt or disgust.
Rituals such as checking, washing, counting, arranging or repeating prayers or phrases to relieve the distress.
Spending an hour or more a day on these thoughts and rituals, or running late because of them.
Knowing the fear is exaggerated, yet feeling unable to stop.
Avoiding places or things, and hiding the behaviour from others out of shame.

What this story explains

The chapter's OCD section describes obsessions, compulsions and common themes like contamination, checking and doubt. It shows that effective treatment exists, including exposure-based therapy and medicine.

Probable root causes

Brain circuits that raise false alarms, with possible family tendency.
Anxious or perfectionist temperament and high sense of responsibility.
Stressful life events, such as new job, marriage or illness, which can trigger or worsen symptoms.
Repeating rituals, which relieves fear briefly and strengthens the habit.

What to do

Recognise that this is a condition, not a character flaw.
Tell a trusted person and seek a professional assessment.
Resist the urge to seek repeated reassurance or to ritualise, with a therapist guiding step by step.
Keep a simple diary of triggers and rituals to share with the clinician.
Keep sleep, exercise and stress reduction in your routine.

Whom to consult

Psychiatrist for assessment and, if appropriate, medicine.
Clinical psychologist trained in exposure and response prevention for therapy.
Family doctor as a first step if you are unsure whom to see.
Emergency services or nearest hospital if distress leads to thoughts of self-harm.

Do and don’t

Do	Don’t
Do seek professional help early.	Don't keep giving repeated reassurance, it feeds the cycle.
Do be patient with slow progress.	Don't mock or scold the person.
Do involve the family in understanding the condition.	Don't hide it out of shame.
Do follow the therapist's step-by-step plan.	Don't stop medicine abruptly.
Do continue prescribed medicine until your doctor advises otherwise.	Don't force them to stop rituals suddenly.

How to behave and communicate

Be warm: 'I can see how frightening those thoughts are. I am with you.'
Avoid 'just stop it' or 'think of something else'.
Instead of repeating reassurance: 'I know you are scared, and I know your therapist has a plan for this.'
Listen without judgement and ask what support helps.
Celebrate effort, not just results.