7 Types of OCD

OCD isn’t a one-size-fits-all experience; it manifests in various forms, each with its own unique set of challenges. OCD can manifest as fear, disgust, or even urges. There are many nuances in the obsessive compulsive process, and identifying the different types of OCD is crucial for recognizing and addressing the condition effectively. 

Intrusive thoughts are a core feature of OCD and can involve fears, urges or images that are disturbing or contradictory to one’s values and desires. They are not reflective of a person's true intentions but are a result of the disorder's impact on the brain's processing of thoughts and anxiety.

Here we'll explore the diverse ways OCD can present itself, shedding light on each type's distinctive characteristics and how they impact those who live with them. Please note this is not an extensive list of OCD subtypes, and there are other ways that obsessions and compulsions can show up. 

1. Contamination Obsessions and Cleaning Compulsions

Obsessions: Distress related to germs, dirt, or contaminants leading to illness or harm. 

Compulsions: Excessive hand washing, cleaning, or avoidance of perceived contaminated objects.

Example: This could look like a new mom who just started bottle feeding and has fears of germs and contamination of the bottle. This could lead the urge to clean the bottle excessively, checking it and cleaning it again. 

2. Checking

Obsessions: Fear of harming oneself or others due to negligence or forgetfulness. 

Compulsions: Repeatedly checking locks, appliances, or personal belongings.

Example: A teenage girl after making breakfast, is sitting in the other room trying to enjoy her eggs but keeps being bombarded with "what if I forgot to turn the stove off", and has the urge to get up and check multiple times. 

3. Symmetry and Ordering

Obsessions: Need for symmetry, exactness, or a sense of order.

Compulsions: Repeating tasks until they feel just right, arranging objects symmetrically.

Example: Jennifer comes home from work and sees that her kids have set their shoes beside the shoe rack. She has an urge to arrange the shoes on the rack from smallest to largest and cannot rest until it is completed. 

4. Hoarding

Obsessions: Fear of discarding items and the perceived need to save them.

Compulsions: Accumulating excessive possessions, difficulty discarding items, cluttering living spaces.

Example: A man has rooms in his house filled to the brim with clothes, bags and different items. His partner suggests taking some of the bags to goodwill, as they have been sitting there for a year. The man cannot allow the items to go to goodwill and has the urge to keep them just in case there is something needed in there. 

5. Harm OCD

Obsession: Fear of causing harm to oneself or others.

Compulsions: Mental rituals, avoidance behaviors, or seeking reassurance to alleviate anxiety related to potential harm.

Example: Tiffany is a nanny and loves kids and seeing them grow and flourish. Sometimes intrusive thoughts barge in about sexually assaulting a child. Tiffany is so disturbed and then seeks reassurance from a close friend: "do you think I would ever hurt a child?" 

6. Scrupulosity (Religious OCD)

Theme: Obsessions and compulsions related to religious or moral beliefs.

Compulsions: Excessive prayer, rituals, confessions, or seeking reassurance related to religious or moral concerns.

Example: Dan believes in a loving God but sometimes his mind turns against him saying: "If you don't pray 6 times a day for forgiveness you are not forgiven." Another thought that could pop up is "if you don't go to church every Sunday, it means you hate God."

7. Just Right OCD

Obsession: Individuals with Just Right OCD often feel that certain tasks, movements, or actions must be performed to a precise degree of satisfaction. 

Compulsion: This might manifest as a need for things to feel "just right," which can be a specific physical sensation or a mental sense of completion. This might compel the individual to repeat an action or adjust things repeatedly until it feels correct.

Examples: Matthew every year on his birthday has to wake up and look in the mirror, he isn't sure why, but he has the urge that he has to and it's become tradition. This ritual ensures a sense of balance or correctness in his life. 

Treatment for OCD

OCD targets and attacks the things we care about and it is a very distressing condition. Navigating OCD can feel confusing and isolating because often times it's unclear what is actually going on and what is at the root of it all. 

It feels like your brain is being hijacked and there is a loss of control and a strong sense of urgency to gain it back by whatever means necessary. However, the control is only temporary until another siege. 

OCD is typically treated using evidence-based therapies such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with a focus on Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). ERP involves gradually exposing individuals to their feared thoughts or situations while refraining from engaging in compulsive behaviors. 

At Nobile Psychology our treatments aim to change the relationship you have with the obsessions and worry thoughts-- as well as changing the relationship you have with yourself. We want to let your system know you are not the problem, and more than that you can do hard things and overcome these intrusions. 

The first step towards freedom is the hardest, and we are here to support you in taking that step with compassion, kindness, and understanding.