What does OCD feel like?
When people come to our practice, they describe feeling trapped in a vicious cycle of constant worry, discomfort and rituals. Unwanted thoughts invade their mind, and they can't shake them off. These thoughts make them incredibly uncomfortable and anxious, so they perform certain actions or routines to try to feel better. It’s exhausting because no matter how many times they complete these rituals, the anxiety always comes back.
They may feel that some of their actions don’t make sense, but they can’t stop themselves. OCD sufferers feel like their brain is stuck on repeat, and they can't break free. This constant battle leaves them feeling drained and frustrated.
What are some common types of OCD?
All types of OCD share Obsessions and Compulsions, but here are a few subtypes of OCD that we see frequently at the Anxiety & OCD Therapy Practice:
Contamination OCD
When someone has contamination OCD, they find that they are intensely fearful of germs, dirt, or environmental contaminants.
They may be scared of getting themselves or being responsible for getting others sick, and this fear often leads to compulsive behaviors aimed at avoiding or neutralizing the perceived threat.
People with this form of OCD might engage in excessive cleaning, handwashing, or avoiding certain places or objects they believe to be contaminated.
How do people with Contamination OCD feel?
People with contamination OCD describe feeling constantly worry about germs, getting sick or making others sick.
They feel like everything is dirty and contaminated, which makes them very anxious. They wash their hands over and over, sometimes until they’re raw, just to feel a little bit cleaner. They avoid touching things that might be dirty, like doorknobs or public surfaces, and feel the need to clean everything around them repeatedly. This fear and need to clean take up so much of their time and energy, and they just can’t seem to get rid of the anxiety it causes.
Checking OCD
People with checking OCD feel an overwhelming need to repeatedly check things to prevent possible harm or to relieve distress caused by obsessive doubts.
This can include checking that doors are locked, appliances are turned off, checking for mistake in some work or going to doctors repeatedly to make sure you don’t have a medical condition.
How do people with Checking OCD feel?
People with checking OCD describe feeling constantly worried that something bad will happen if they don’t check and recheck certain things.
This fear makes it hard for them to trust their memory or sense of security. For example, they might need to repeatedly check if the door is locked or if the stove is off. Even after checking, they still feel uncertain and anxious, often going back to check again and again.
These compulsions take up a significant amount of their time and energy, making daily tasks difficult and leaving them exhausted and frustrated.
Symmetry and ordering OCD (AKA "Just right OCD")
People with this type of OCD have extreme discomfort or worry that something bad will happen if thing are not symmetrical, orderly, or perfectly aligned. This leads them to engage in compulsive behaviors to arrange and rearrange items until they feel "just right."
How do people with Symmetry and ordering OCD feel?
People with symmetry and ordering OCD describe feeling a constant need for things to be in perfect order, even (i.e. touch both sides) or symmetrical.
This compulsion can apply to everyday objects, such as books on a shelf, clothes in a closet, or even items on a desk. If something is out of place or not perfectly aligned, they experience intense anxiety and a sense of unease that something bad may happen or their thoughts may come true. They might spend hours arranging and rearranging items until they feel everything is perfectly balanced and symmetrical. This need for symmetry can be all-consuming, significantly impacting their daily life and causing frustration and exhaustion
Intrusive Thoughts (aka Pure-O)
People with intrusive thoughts experience persistent, unwanted, and distressing thoughts. These thoughts can be violent, contain inappropriate content, they may violate their moral or religious beliefs, or otherwise disturbing thoughts that cause significant anxiety.
Unlike other forms of OCD, people with Intrusive Thought OCD (Pure-O) may not have visible compulsions; instead, they engage in mental rituals to alleviate their distress or make sure their thoughts don’t come true.
How do people with Intrusive Thoughts OCD feel?
People with Intrusive Thoughts OCD describe feeling trapped in their own mind, plagued by intrusive thoughts that refuse to go away. These thoughts often center around disturbing themes, such as harming others or violating their core values.
Thoughts can be about taboo ideas, action or forbidden relationships. The resulting guilt and shame are overwhelming.
Despite their best efforts to counteract these thoughts with mental rituals like praying, counting, distraction, good thoughts or seeking reassurance, nothing seems to alleviate the torment and the thoughts keep returning. It's a relentless cycle that leaves them feeling utterly overwhelmed and terrified.
Scrupulosity (Religious OCD)
People with Scrupulosity/Religious OCD have excessive concern with religious adherence. They are often consumed by thoughts of having committed sins or moral violations (e.g Doing religious practices
incorrectly or having "bad thoughts" about God/religion) and fear eternal punishment or divine disapproval.
They may engage in compulsive behaviors like excessive prayer, repeating prayer or religious rituals, confessing, seeking reassurance from religious authorities, or avoiding situations that could trigger their fears. The overwhelming guilt and anxiety can make daily life incredibly challenging for those affected.
How do people with Scrupulosity/Religious OCD feel?
People with Scrupulosity/Religious OCD describe feeling overwhelmed by constant fear and anxiety about committing sins. Each thought and action are scrutinized, as if they’re walking on a tightrope of moral perfection.
They’re constantly seeking reassurance through prayer, confession, or avoiding situations they believe might lead OCD to sin. The guilt is all-consuming, and they cannot stop thinking of all the things they may have done wrong and how they need to correct it. This makes everyday tasks feel like a moral minefield, leaving them exhausted an distressed."
Other OCD Types
Other OCD types
• Relationship OCD (ROCD) obsessive thoughts about being in the wrong relationship, being married to the wrong person or obsessing about if you love your partner or if your partner loves you.
• Mental Illness OCD – fears about becoming severely mentally ill including fears of developing schizophrenia or bipolar. Also includes fear of losing various skills or mental capacities.
• Pedophilia OCD (POCD) – fears about being a child molester, having conducted acts of pedophilia in the past or worry about doing so in the future.
• Harm OCD – fears about harming others including a child or a loved one.
• Hit-and-run OCD – fear of possibly harming someone while driving.
• Disgust OCD – a deep aversion to coming in contact with anything that is viewed as “disgusting.” The fear of contamination might not only involve germs but also anything perceived as "dirty" or "impure."
• Existential OCD - Intrusive, obsessive thoughts about the nature of existence, reality, or the universe. Constantly question the meaning of life, their purpose, and the nature of reality. Becoming preoccupied with questions like "What if life has no meaning?" or "How can I be certain that I exist?"
• Homosexual OCD (HOCD)/Gay OCD/Sexual Orientation OCD – Obsessions about sexual orientation and may include guilt of how you or your partner may feel if your thoughts are indeed true.
• Racism OCD - Intrusive, distressing thoughts related to race or cultural differences. These thoughts can range from fears of being racist by mistake or saying something offensive in public.
• Health OCD (aka Hypochondria & Health anxiety):Obsessive worry about having a serious illness despite medical reassurance. Individuals may frequently check their body for symptoms, seek medical tests, or excessively search for health information, resulting in significant anxiety and distress.
Perinatal OCD is a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) that occurs during pregnancy or after giving birth. It is characterized by intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions) related to the baby or the birthing process.
OCD related disorders
- Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD): BDD involves obsessive thoughts about perceived flaws in one's appearance, which are often unnoticeable to others. This leads to compulsive behaviors such as mirror checking, excessive grooming, or seeking reassurance, significantly impacting daily life.
- Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling Disorder): Is the compulsive urge to pull out one's hair, leading to noticeable hair loss. This behavior is often a way to cope with stress or anxiety and can lead to significant distress and impairment in daily functioning.
- Dermatillomania (Skin Picking Disorder): Is repetitive skin picking, leading to skin lesions and significant distress. This behavior is often driven by anxiety or perceived imperfections in the skin, and can result in physical damage and difficulty in daily activities.
- Emetophobia is the intense fear of vomiting. People with emetophobia may go to great lengths to avoid situations where they think they might vomit or see someone else vomit Click here to learn more about Understanding Emetophobia and How to Overcome It
- Comorbid OCD and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) click to learn more about the interplay between OCD and ASD
Is OCD a type of anxiety disorder?
OCD used to be classified as an anxiety disorder. However, it now falls into its own category in the DSM-5.
While OCD involves significant anxiety, it is distinguished by the presence of obsessions (unwanted, intrusive thoughts) and compulsions (repetitive behaviors aimed at reducing anxiety), setting it apart from other anxiety disorders.
What does OCD treatment look like?
Fortunately, OCD is highly treatable using the evidence-based strategies implemented at our practice.
We use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to restructure your relationship to unwanted thoughts and physical sensations and exposure with response prevention (ERP) to gradually face fears and get your life back.
My ultimate goal is for you to learn the skills to fight your anxiety on your own so that you can become your own therapist. With the right strategies, you can get there!
Please reach out if you would like to meet with an Anxiety/OCD specialist!
Interested to learn more? We’re here to help!
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