OCD is a term that gets tossed around a bit too often these days. If you simply exhibit some OCD-like tendencies, this does not necessarily mean that you have the disorder. Superstitions are a good example of this.

While these beliefs have no basis in fact, it's also true that many actors and sports figures, for instance, regularly observe rituals that they hope or believe will bring them luck. A baseball player might keep a “lucky coin” in his pocket while playing. Or a “regular person” might toss salt over his shoulder after accidentally spilling some. Is this OCD? Probably not. What matters is how much distress you feel, and for how long, when prevented from observing your particular “protective” behavior.

Similarly, religious ritual can sometimes behave like OCD. (In fact, there is also a type of OCD called scrupulosity, which causes preoccupation with religious observance. You'll read more about this later.)

Conditions often mistaken for OCD include:

• Generalized anxiety disorder. Some people worry a lot — not about specific situations, as people with OCD tend to, but about many things, or “everything” in general. (Hence, the name.)

• Phobias. Because OCD usually involves both irrational fears and avoiding things that frighten the sufferer, obsessive-compulsive behavior is often misdiagnosed as phobia. But fear is only part of OCD. A person who has a fear of flying may not necessarily have OCD. He may simply have a fear of flying.

If I have OCD, does that mean I'm crazy?

Before you read any further, relax. OCD can be highly troubling, even immobilizing. It can make you feel alienated and alone. But it absolutely does not mean you're insane. In fact, if you're questioning it at all, that means you're rational enough to know, on some level, that your behavior doesn't make sense.

• Panic disorder. While OCD is an anxiety disorder, it differs from panic disorder, a condition in which the sufferer finds herself suddenly overwhelmed with dread and unpleasant physical symptoms. OCD can also involve physical symptoms, but a person who has a panic disorder usually does not know why she feels frightened.

• Depression. Depression is common to many mental and physical conditions. OCD sufferers often are at greater risk than the general population for depression. At least part of the reason probably has to do with brain chemistry.

In order to receive appropriate treatment, you need to be sure you get an accurate diagnosis. Different anxiety disorders require different treatments, such as therapy or medication, and you have the best chances of taking control of your situation if you see a therapist and get diagnosed.