OCD Symptoms: Personal Experiences and Genetic Concerns - Psychiatry

Please provide more context or details about the situation you would like to inquire about?

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The situation began 18 years ago when I was in the second year of high school at Taichung First Senior High School.
I remember that afternoon I was studying geography at school, but the class was so noisy that I couldn't concentrate.
I decided to wait until I got home that evening to study that page.
That night, when I took out the book to read that page, I felt very confused after finishing it.
I read it again, but still felt uneasy (I have always struggled with geography, and I would fail this subject in every exam).
Frustrated, I ended up tearing the textbook.
(Even after rereading, I still felt anxious.) I tried to study other subjects, but I couldn't shake off the feeling that I hadn't done well in geography.
The next day, I started to feel like I couldn't focus on studying; my mind was preoccupied with the fact that I hadn't finished reading.
I felt a sense of heaviness and confusion, and I didn't understand what was happening to me; I just felt troubled.
A few days later, I found myself needing to mentally retrace my steps and remember what I had done, but after a week or two, it subsided.
However, I found it increasingly difficult to study, especially in geography and English (subjects I felt I was not good at), with persistent feelings of unease and the urge to check things repeatedly.
The biggest issue was during my third year of high school when studying became very challenging, and my grades naturally dropped.
I only managed to get into Soochow University.
I don't recall any specific "compulsive" incidents during my time in college, but I always felt a sense of heaviness, and I knew I was different from before.
After studying for half a year, I decided to retake the entrance exam.
During that year, I also can't remember any particular "compulsive" behaviors; I managed to finish my studies smoothly, but I still felt a sense of heaviness.
At that time, I had no idea what "obsessive-compulsive disorder" (OCD) was.
My mind didn't present any images related to sexuality, harm, or violence, nor did I have feelings of needing to check, wash my hands, or fear contamination.
The main issue was my tendency to check and worry.
After retaking the exam, I got into National Chengchi University.
During those four years, I also can't recall any specific "compulsive" incidents.
Later, I was accepted into the military officer training program.
I remember that during my military training, there was a period of nearly a week when I would easily wake up in the middle of the night, feeling a sense of fear and unease that prevented me from falling back asleep.
After talking to a counselor, the situation disappeared after a week and never recurred.
After completing my service, I found a job at a bank.
While counting money for customers, I didn't feel the need to check repeatedly or fear contamination.
However, it was during this time that I encountered the term "obsessive-compulsive disorder." With the rise of the internet, I came across the term "OCD" online, and comparing it to my past experiences, I "concluded" that I must have OCD.
The most significant impression I had was that I began to check important items, such as new clothes, wallets, and valuables, repeatedly to see if they were damaged or missing.
In contrast, I didn't care about less important items, like old clothes or whether things were clean or tidy.
I would only check important items, like new clothes, for damage, and even after checking, I would still feel uneasy.
However, it never reached the point where I couldn't leave the house or do other things; it was just something that lingered in my mind.
For important matters, after completing them, I would experience anxious thoughts and want to confirm again that everything was fine (sometimes two or three times).
After confirming, I would soon think back to whether I had done it correctly, and if my recollection confirmed that everything was fine, I could relax.
Otherwise, I would worry about whether I had completed everything accurately, which would weigh on my mind until I checked again.
For example, when organizing items into a box, after putting everything in, I would worry about whether I had included something important, so I would check again, maybe twice, but never to the extent of checking dozens of times or being unable to leave.
I wonder if this is a symptom of OCD or just a reflection of my cautious nature.
How can I differentiate between the two? Do other people have similar habits? This has been my most notable behavior and thought pattern until now, but over the past few years, it has gradually diminished, and it has completely disappeared in the last six months.
However, I am now very concerned about the hereditary aspect of OCD.
I would like to ask the doctor if my situation, from the past to the present, truly indicates OCD, or if it is just a symptom of OCD, or if it is something else entirely? I would like to hear your detailed opinion, as well as your thoughts on the hereditary aspect.

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Wang, 30~39 year old female. Ask Date: 2009/11/13