Contamination OCD
Obsession
Intrusive thoughts and fears surrounding germs, chemicals, and contaminants.
“What if I get sick?”
“What if I get dirty?”
Common compulsions
- Hand washing
- Use of cleaning products
- Avoidance of feared substances, chemicals, and household products
- Overthinking about contamination
Symmetry OCD
Obsession
Fear or discomfort about objects that do not line up correctly, symmetrically, or in a preferred pattern.
“What if things are not even and something bad happens?”
Common compulsions
- Moving or re-aligning objects, or avoiding using objects for fear of getting stuck having to re-align them again
- Asking family members to move or align objects to satisfy the obsession
Sexual Orientation OCD, also known as HOCD
Obsession
Fear of being of a different sexual orientation. This obsession was once known as HOCD (fear and uncertainty of being or becoming a homosexual) but now applies to people of all sexual orientations.
“What if I am gay?”
“What if I am bisexual?”
“What if I am straight?”
Common compulsions
- Avoidance of anything that represents the feared sexual orientation
- Overthinking, in an attempt to figure out what sexuality best describes them or if they are in “denial”
- Online reassurance seeking, or repeatedly questioning if they actually have OCD
“Just Right” OCD
Obsession
Fear of the “not right” feeling.
“What if it doesn’t feel just right and something bad happens?”
Common compulsions
- Doing a behavior (checking, walking through doors, cleaning items) until experiencing the “just right” feeling
- Avoiding events, numbers, colors, or words that result in the “not right” feeling
Harm OCD
Obsession
Fears of violently hurting others.
“What if I harm myself or others?”
Common compulsions
- Avoidance of loved ones
- Avoidance of potentially harmful objects (knives, cars, sharp objects, etc.)
- Asking for reassurance that they will not or did not hurt another
- Overthinking to find certainty about the intentions of these thoughts, or repeatedly questioning if they actually have OCD
Pedophile OCD
Obsession
Fear of being attracted to a minor, or fear of performing a sexual behavior with a minor.
“What if I am attracted to a child?”
“What if I sexually assaulted a minor?”
Common compulsions
- Avoidance of areas where children gather (schools, daycare centers)
- Overthinking, in hope to find certainty about the intentions behind these thoughts
- Mentally checking for arousal, and seeking reassurance from loved ones or the internet
- Repeatedly questioning if they have OCD
Postpartum and Perinatal OCD
Obsession
Fear of harming one’s baby and/or child.
“What if I harm my baby?”
“What if I miss something and my baby is hurt?”
Common compulsions
- Avoidance of babies and/or children
- Reassurance seeking from loved ones and the internet
- Overthinking, in the hope to find certainty about the intentions of these thoughts
- Repeatedly questioning if they actually have OCD
Moral or Religious OCD
Obsession
Fear of offending God or fear of not having salvation. Fear of doing a behavior that doesn’t line up with their morals or religion.
“What if I offended God and never go to heaven?”
“What if I do something that goes against my morals?”
Common compulsions
- Praying over and over
- Praying or behaving “perfectly”
- Saying religious words or phrases over and over
- Avoidance of blasphemous or “immoral” thoughts
- Mentally reviewing behaviors to decide if they were “good” or “bad”
Relationship OCD or ROCD
Obsession
Fear and uncertainty about whether their partner is “the one.”
“What if I don’t actually love my partner?”
“What if I cheat on my partner?”
Common compulsions
- Mentally reviewing their partner’s behaviors
- Mentally scrutinizing their feelings and emotions toward their partner
- Checking and comparing their feelings for their partner
Relationship OCD group: join the waitlist
E-book: But Do I Really Love Them?
Emotional Contamination OCD
Obsession
Fear that contact with a person will alter them or endanger them.
Common compulsions
- Avoidance of the feared person
- Mentally reviewing how close they were to the feared person during recent contact
- Handwashing, cleaning, and other physical compulsions in the hope of neutralizing recent contact with the feared person
Existential OCD
Obsession
Repetitive questioning about the purpose of one’s life.
“What if I never know the reason for life?”
Common compulsions
- Overthinking about the purpose of life
- Excessive research or inquiry about the meaning of life
Obsessing about Obsessing
Obsession
Fear that one will never be able to stop obsessing or having intrusive thoughts.
“What if I never get better?”
“What if I never stop obsessing?”
Common compulsions
- Mentally avoiding feared thoughts
- Avoiding events that may trigger obsessions
- Trying to do treatment perfectly, or using therapy skills as a way to avoid fear
Hyper-Awareness OCD
Obsession
Fear that one will never stop noticing a sensation or feeling (breath, hands tingling, a specific side of the body or body part, itches).
“What if I never stop noticing my breath?”
Common compulsions
- Overthinking about the sensation or how to get rid of it
- Avoiding behaviors that increase awareness of uncomfortable sensations
Perfectionism Obsessions
Obsession
Fear of not being perfect, or being perceived as not perfect, in one or more areas of life.
“What if I make a mistake?”
“What if I fail?”
Common compulsions
- Attempting to be “perfect” (high grades, hobbies, social skills, friendships, not hurting people’s feelings, not being vulnerable)
- Being highly critical of oneself
- Redoing actions and projects to assure perfection
Hyper-responsibility Obsessions
Obsession
Fear of being responsible for a tragic event.
“What if I am responsible for an accident?”
Common compulsions
- Checking (stoves are off, doors are locked, matches are out, no one was hurt, etc.)
- Mentally reviewing or asking for reassurance to be sure no one was physically hurt or no one’s feelings were hurt