Plural of compulsion; strong, irresistible urges to do something, often involuntary or driven by anxiety.
From Latin 'compulsio' (a driving together, constraint), derived from 'compellere' (to compel). The '-ion' suffix creates abstract nouns indicating actions or states.
Psychology borrowed 'compulsion' to describe the irresistible urges in OCD and other conditions—it perfectly captures that feeling of being 'driven together' by your own mind against your will.
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