There are five main categories of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
The most common misunderstanding regarding Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is that those struggling with it just love cleaning (ocduk). This misunderstanding has been perpetrated by the media to the extent that it is believed to be the only kind of OCD. There are in fact, 5 different categories of OCD. We are going to discusss Checking, Contamination / Mental Contamination, Symmetry and ordering, Ruminations / Intrusive Thoughts, and Hoarding (ocduk).
I do want to remind anyone reading this article that there are more than 5 different kinds of OCD. To have OCD, someone needs to have both Obsessions, unwanted thoughts or ideas that disrupt your daily life and Compulsions, rituals you have to perform in a specific way in response to your obsessions. This can present in many different ways, we are just going to discuss some common ways it may present itself.
The first category is Checking. This type of OCD an obsessive fear with compulsions to do things in order to prevent damage, fire, leaks or harm. This could be someone constantly having to make sure that the faucet is compeltely turned off in order to prevent flooding or someone having to drive their route to or from work many times in order to make sure that they didn't run over someone.
This disorder can be extremely difficult to live with as it may cause those who have it to be continually late to work or school due to having to check multiple times or for extended periods of time.
They may also damage the things they have to check, for example the leaky faucet may actually start to break from constantly being overtightened (ocduk).
The next category is Contamination/Mental Contamination. This form of OCD stems from a fear of being dirty and that this dirtiness can harm you or your loved ones. The compulsions may be triggered by being in public restrooms, after shaking hands, being in large crowds, or even just being in certain places. The difference with mental contamination is that the root cause is more commonly being treated poorly by another, causing an internal feeling of uncleanliness. The common compulsions are to repeatadly shower or wash hands after an interaction has occured (ocduk).
The third category is Symmetry and Ordering OCD. This form of OCD is also commonly portrayed poorly in the media. While some of the triggers may be the same as the media portrays, it is important to remember that to anyone struggling with OCD, their compulsions are not a joke. Many believe that something extremely awful will happen if things are not symmetrical and/or perfectly balanced. Many struggling with these compulsions will spend hours rearranging rooms and closets for things to be "just right." They also tend to avoid areas like bathrooms where the tile would cause a compulsion to trace it and make sure the tiles are even (beyondocd).
The fourth category of OCD is Ruminations/Intrusive thoughts. This is categorized by thoughts that are unproductive and usually pointless or they can be extremely horrific and violent thoughts. These thoughts often lead the person to become detached and lost in their own thoughts for hours on end. Often the thoughts lead to nothing and it causes even more frustration and even more time dwelt on it. The biggest concern with this form of OCD is the inability to control the thoughts or make them go away (ocduk). While this form of OCD doesn't usually have any outward compulsions, generally hours of their day may be spent focusing on these thoughts (healthline).
The final category of OCD we are going to discuss is Hoarding. While Hoarding Disorder can be a condition by itself, it is classified as OCD when the compulsion to hoard is accompianied by the feeling that something bad will happen if they don't hoard. Those struggling with OCD Hoarding often do not want all the things they have they just feel like they have to keep them or something bad will happen. Often times this is seen by people refusing to throw away old mail, buying multiples of the same items, and even a compulsion to constantly check that you have all your belongings (healthline).
Currently, we are unsure about what exactly causes OCD. Science has shown that genetics, brain structure, and environment all play a role in OCD (northpointrecovery). We do know that OCD can be treated. Physicians have found that a couple of medications drastically reduce the symptoms of OCD. If you, or someone you know, are struggling with OCD, please know that you are not alone and it is always okay to need help!
Learn More:
1. Northpoint Staff. “What Types of OCD Are There? Get the Breakdown Here.” Northpoint Recovery's Blog, Northpoint Recovery, 30 Jan. 2020, www.northpointrecovery.com/blog/types-ocd-get-breakdown/.
2. “OCD Symptoms: Need For Symmetry.” Beyond OCD, Beyond OCD, beyondocd.org/information-for-individuals/symptoms/extreme-need-for-symmetry-or-exactness.
3. Raypole, Crystal. “Are There Types of OCD?” Healthline, Healthline.com, 5 Sept. 2019, www.healthline.com/health/ocd/types-of-ocd#diagnosis.
4. “Types of OCD.” OCDUK, OCD-UK, www.ocduk.org/ocd/types/.
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