Body hyperawareness, emotional contamination, perfectionism, obsession with morality, and fear of harming others are all rare and unusual branches of the main disorder of OCD.
Counting, tapping, repeating certain words, or doing other senseless things to reduce anxiety. Spending a lot of time washing or cleaning. Ordering or arranging things “just so”. Praying excessively or engaging in rituals triggered by religious fear.
Common obsessions include fears about contamination, worries about having left appliances on or doors unlocked, fear of acting in shameful or humiliating ways, discomfort about things being out of order, extreme concerns about superstitions such as unlucky numbers or colors, and excessive worries about keeping objects ...
The subtle compulsion is this: we start to believe that what OCD is telling us is true, making us feel depressed or guilty or regretful, etc. and then we change how we engage in life to match these OCD-generated emotions. And this subtle change in our approach to life super-charges the disorder.
Presentation. Primarily obsessional OCD has been called "one of the most distressing and challenging forms of OCD."
Harm OCD. This subtype of OCD involves intrusive thoughts of harming others or committing some sort of violent act. Someone who suffers from these types of thoughts experiences significant distress, because thoughts of harming others are inconsistent with their values and who they are.
Constantly seeking approval or reassurance. Rituals related to numbers, such as counting, repeating, excessively preferencing or avoiding certain numbers. People with OCD may also avoid certain people, places, or situations that cause them distress and trigger obsessions and/or compulsions.
People struggling with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) are often misdiagnosed as having other psychological conditions. One of the most common misdiagnoses for this population is Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).
Hyperawareness or Sensorimotor OCD is where a significant amount of attention is spent thinking about body functions or sensations. Often these sessions are unconscious but with this type of OCD the brain gets stuck focusing on them.
Signs and symptoms of OCD
Obsessive thoughts: These obsession symptoms typically intrude other thoughts when you're trying to do or think about other things and may include: Fear of being contaminated by germs or dirt. Intrusive sexually explicit or violent thoughts. Fear of having a serious illness.
Obsessions are repeated thoughts, urges, or mental images that cause anxiety. Common symptoms include: Fear of germs or contamination. Unwanted forbidden or taboo thoughts involving sex, religion, or harm.
The main symptoms of OCD are obsessions and compulsions that interfere with normal activities. For example, symptoms may often prevent you from getting to work on time. Or you may have trouble getting ready for bed in a reasonable amount of time.
These would include intrusive unpleasant thoughts, unceasing doubt, guilt fears of being insane, and crushing anxiety.
Magical thinking within OCD consists of unreasonable and irrational thought patterns that are characterized by connecting actions and events that have no relation whatsoever.
OCPD is a personality disorder. It looks and feels different than OCD. People with OCPD are strongly focused on—even obsessed with—a goal of perfection for themselves and others.
Withdrawing from family and friends because of obsessions with contamination. Avoiding physical intimacy with a partner out of fear of germs, religious impurity, or intrusive violent thoughts. Being late for social events because too much time is spent checking stoves, locks, or light switches.
“OCD symptoms can intensify during times of stress or when you feel like life is getting out of control.” People with OCD regularly experience extreme, yet unnecessary, worry. Obsessive and uncontrollable thoughts can interfere with life to the point of serious disruption.
Somatic obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an OCD subtype characterized by ongoing intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors around one's somatic experience — the physical sensations they can't control.
The type of abnormal activity, though, is quite different: those with OCD exhibit significantly higher levels of activity in this system, while those with ADHD exhibit significantly lower levels of activity in it.
OCD is chronic
You can get it under control and become recovered but, at the present time, there is no cure. It is a potential that will always be there in the background, even if it is no longer affecting your life.
People with severe OCD have obsessions with cleanliness and germs — washing their hands, taking showers, or cleaning their homes for hours a day. Sometimes they're afraid to leave home for fear of contamination.