Learn more about OCD!
Different types of OCD
Obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD is one of the most common mental health-related problems associated with obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. A person diagnosed with OCD may or may not have both the above-mentioned elements.
Usually, OCD takes up a significant chunk of time from the diagnosed person’s routine. Many a time, they aren’t satisfied with the way things are arranged around them, so they have this strong instinct to arrange it in a particular manner.
Similarly, they have difficulty combating the fear of accidentally or intentionally hurting others or abstaining from violent/sexual thoughts. OCD takes form in wide varieties, and it is usually unique to the person’s believes or fears.
6 common types of OCD.
1. Violent or sexual thoughts
People with this type of OCD usually suffer from an aggressive, violent streak of thoughts about harming themselves or those closest to them. Even though these thoughts are totally intrusive and unwanted, the person won’t be able to stop them at will.
The thoughts may also be presented in the form of behaving in a sexually inappropriate way in front of others and embarrassing themselves in front of the ones they respect the most.
2. Exposure to germs and causing contamination
This is one of the most common types of OCD, and the person with this particular type of OCD fears germs the most and is afraid of their possible contamination. Therefore, they constantly wash their hands whenever they touch a surface, wipe the place excessively before sitting down or even totally avoid those places to eliminate the possibility of contamination.
In worst cases, such people may even isolate themselves from others as they fear the germs might get transferred onto them while shaking their hands or having an intimate conversation.
3. Morality and sin
People who have this type of OCD always resort to praying and asking for forgiveness, even if they commit a slight mistake. They are constantly afraid of committing sins or anything evil.
They usually stay away from anything that their brain deems as immoral and always seek forgiveness if they have even the slightest hint that what they committed is wrong.
Such people isolate themselves from the crowds or even keep a distance from the people who, in their terms, seem to have been committing immoral acts or sins.
4. Feeling doubtful and sensation of incompleteness
The person suffering from this type of OCD usually doubts all their actions and wonder if they have done the right thing or not. This leads to self-doubt and, therefore, very low self-esteem. Additionally, they look for validation and often feel incomplete without it.
The doubt can be over trivial things like whether they had switched off the fan or turned off the water heater. Unfortunately, these small doubts keep pestering them, and they only find a bit of peace when they make sure they have done things the right way.
5. Obsessing over symmetry and order
Another common type of OCD is OCD relating to symmetry and order. People with this type of OCD tend to keep everything arranged around them in a particular orderly manner or symmetry. If this doesn’t happen, they constantly think about it, and their revolting thoughts only end when things are put in the way they want them to be.
They also believe in superstitions pertaining to numbers, symmetry, and patterns. So for them, everything that happens in their life should happen according to a certain pattern or order. Such thoughts would give them little to no peace as they constantly worry about the future.
6. Fear of losing self-control
People with OCD usually worry a lot about the consequences of their actions. They are torn between the right and wrong outcomes of an action, so much so that it takes a lot of time to arrive at a decision.
They also worry about losing self-control and doing something they fear the most. People with such thoughts usually isolate themselves from the crowd or avoid situations where they feel they would embarrass themselves in front of a group.
Final Thoughts
People with OCD may have more than one type of the above-mentioned OCDs, and it’s really important that they see a psychotherapist to strong-arm themselves to face the problems. The OCD treatment varies depending on the type they suffer from.
