The 6 Most Obsessive-Compulsive Zodiac Signs
They need to have a certain amount of control over their lives.
getty OCD is a mental health disorder that affects a variety of people and happens when a person gets caught up in a succession of obsessions and compulsions. When the term obsession is used in this case, it means unwanted and intrusive thoughts, ideas, images, and urges that bring about intensely upsetting feelings.
Compulsions are behaviors (often triggered by the obsessions) that a person does as a way to deal with distressing feelings. But could astrology make you more likely to be affected by Obsessive Compulsive Disorder? Well, for the obsessive compulsive zodiac signs, there are certain behaviors — such as perfectionism, difficulty in making decisions, and an uneasiness regarding the unknown — that go along with this disorder. And it's bigger than just a horoscope.
OCD is often misrepresented in the media — it can be played for laughs and presented as a funny quirk, but to those suffering from it, it can be very difficult to see the humor if it’s something that controls your life. It’s almost impossible to compartmentalize OCD as it tends to affect how you function at home, at work, in school, in relationships, and out in the world.
Sometimes, OCD co-exists with other conditions, including anxiety, depression, eating disorders, ADHD, hoarding, and Body Dysmorphic Disorder. If you think you might have OCD and need help, please make an appointment with a healthcare professional.
1. VIRGO (August 23 - September 22)
Virgos have many OCD tendencies. First off, they like things to be very clean and organized. If something isn't symmetrical or out of place, Virgo will get extremely annoyed.
They're perfectionists and can dwell on what they think are their own flaws, and sometimes on the flaws of others. They can be overly critical, hard on themselves, and will work too hard to make everything as close to perfect as possible, no matter how impossible that goal is to reach.
2. TAURUS (April 20 - May 20)
It's Taurus' stubbornness that can be an indication of OCD. They like doing things their way and can get very agitated if they're required to do it some other way.
They can be intractable when it comes to their own opinions and will get into it if someone tries to change their opinion. They're so entrenched in their ways that it's almost impossible to get them to try something new, and this flexible inability and dependence on repetition can be a compulsive behavior.
3. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 21)
Sagittarius sometimes struggle with OCD, usually due to a distaste and fear of germs. They will scrub their hands, wash things repeatedly, and will use hand sanitizer often.
They have a tendency to be overly superstitious and engage in magical thinking. They see patterns and messages where there may not be in order to stop themselves from getting too anxious. They will make rituals for themselves as a way to feel better and more in control of their lives.
4. CANCER (June 21 - July 22)
The OCD qualities that Cancers sometimes have is the way they need constant reassurance from others throughout the day, and how they worry that they may be a bad person. Everyone has their moments where they think they're not as worthy as other people and need to be given positive feedback, but Cancers tend to require confirmation of their worthiness all the time.
They overthink things that have happened, sometimes focusing on a negative outcome that may or may not have happened, and berate themselves for failing their loved ones.
5. CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 19)
Capricorns want to be the best and most hard-working person in the room, but sometimes they get overly concerned that they're not doing a good enough job. They'll check and recheck things. If they find an error they missed before, they will become convinced there were more things they didn't catch, and they'll get stuck.
Capricorns don't like not knowing — in life, in business, and in their relationships — and it can lead to them over-researching, seeking reassurances, and double-checking things they have no control over.
6. GEMINI (May 21 - June 20)
The OCD trait that is most prevalent in Geminis is their constant struggle with indecision. Not being able to make the simplest decisions can prevent them from getting started on their day. It's not unlikely for their indecisiveness to start a whole chain of events; they can't decide what to wear to work, what to bring for lunch, what they're doing after work.
Before they know it, they're stuck in traffic, late for work, and have missed the morning meeting. When they feel as if they've messed up, they don't let it go; instead, they go over it repeatedly in their head until it makes it even more difficult to make decisions.
Christine Schoenwald is a writer, performer, and astrology lover. She has written over 500 articles on the zodiac signs and how the stars influence us. She's had articles in The Los Angeles Times, Salon, Woman's Day, and is a contributing writer to Ravishly, I AM & CO, and YourTango. Check out her website, her Facebook writer's page, and her Instagram.