Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD is a complex and often misunderstood diagnosis. Consider what comes to mind when you think OCD – maybe being neat and organized or preferring symmetrical objects come to mind. We can thank popular media for providing just one subtype of OCD when in reality there is much more that comes into play with this diagnosis. So let’s dive into what OCD can look like and understand the different ways it might affect our day to day.
Obsessions vs Compulsions
So what makes OCD, well OCD? This disorder presents as a combination of obsessive or intrusive thoughts that compel us to do something to “undo” the thought. Maybe that looks like checking the stove is off, checking in with friends or family, or saying a quick prayer. These compulsions or rituals function in a way to make the “bad” thought go away or at least be less scary or intense. The key thing to understand about intrusive thoughts is that they are often very upsetting and unwanted. Everyone has intrusive thoughts sometimes but what makes it OCD is how often and how much it negatively affects your life.
OCD Subtypes
Intrusive thoughts can have many flavors or themes they fall into. While there are many different types of “content” that might come up, they all share a common theme in that they are distressing and unwanted by the person thinking about them. See below for a brief explanation of the different types of obsessive or intrusive thoughts.
- Contamination OCD: Fear of becoming infected, diseased, or spreading germs to others. Often leading to excessive hand washing or cleaning rituals.
- Relationship OCD: Worries of being in the “right” relationship. Compulsions related to this theme might look like excessive internal “checking” of relationship doubts.
- Harm OCD: Fear of harming others, often by accidental methods. This might lead to avoidance of using knives or other potentially dangerous objects around others.
- False memory OCD: Recalling memories with the worry of misremembering details, often furthering confusion around the facts of the memory.
- Scrupulosity or Religious OCD: Worries of violating moral or ethical beliefs. This can present as compulsory prayer or participating in excessive religious rituals.
- Perinatal OCD: Fears of hurting or endangering your child. Compulsions related to this theme might present as excessive checking on your infant or reassurance seeking from others that you have not harmed your child.
- Pedophilia OCD: Unwanted sexual thoughts of children. This theme of OCD can be particularly distressing and lead to avoidance of children entirely, isolation from others, or reassurance seeking behaviors.
- Counting OCD: Unwanted counting, often in specific patterns to feel “correct.”
These are just some of the many variations of obsessive thoughts. OCD themes can often blend together, meaning we can experience thoughts from many subtypes. Remember – many of us will experience unwanted thoughts in our lifetimes but that does not mean we necessarily have OCD.
So What if I Think I have OCD?
You aren’t alone, as many as 1 in 100 adults are experiencing OCD in the United States. Children and adolescent populations of OCD are estimated to be approximately 1 in 200. The good news is that treatment is available. A good starting place is to see what providers in your area specialize in evidence based treatments for OCD such as;
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Medication Management
While experiencing unwanted thoughts and feeling out of control is scary and might feel impossible to change, you are capable of learning how to tolerate and cope with your OCD. With the right team of professionals who can build a treatment plan to fit your needs you can find a sense of empowerment and relief from your OCD.
About the Author
Eleanor Raker (she/her) MA., LPC is a Licensed Professional Counselor who specializes in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. Eleanor works with individuals ages 14 through adults who are seeking better balance in their lives and the tools to get them there. She believes the therapy process is unique to each person and strives to make meaningful connections to each client. Click here to learn more about Eleanor’s experience and therapeutic approach.
References
McGrath, P. (2021, February 22). A Quick Guide to Some Common OCD Subtypes. NOCD. https://www.treatmyocd.com/blog/a-quick-guide-to-some-common-ocd-subtypes
Who gets ocd?. International OCD Foundation. (2023, October 4). https://iocdf.org/about-ocd/who-gets-ocd/
Lack, C. W. (2012). Obsessive-compulsive disorder: Evidence-based treatments and future directions for research. World Journal of Psychiatry, 2(6), 86. https://doi.org/10.5498/wjp.v2.i6.86