Did you know there are at least 16 OCD subtypes?

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1. Contamination OCD:  The fear and uncertainty that germs, chemicals, and other contaminants will make one sick or even terminally ill.  Contamination OCD also includes obsessions of repulsion and disgust

2. Symmetry OCD:  The anxiety and discomfort that objects are not lined up correctly, are asymmetrical, or are not in a particular pattern

3. Sexual Orientation OCD:  Fear and uncertainly surrounding one’s sexual orientation.  Obsessions can become focused on any sexual orientation.  A person of any sexual orientation can struggle with the uncertaininty of having or developing a different orientation.  Obsessions surrounding one’s GENDER IDENTITY are also common.

4.  Just Right OCD:  The fear and discomfort related to experiencing a “Not right” feeling.  This subtype of OCD can be “fixed” (with the individual always feeling that things need to be a precise and particular way), or ever-changing (with the individual’s feelings of “rightness” changing, depending on what feels “right” at the moment). 

5. Harm OCD:  The fear and uncertainty around whether one could or did, accidentally or intentionally hurt others or oneself. 

6. Pedophilia OCD (commonly known as POCD):  The fear and uncertainty related to being or becoming a pedophile.  Common POCD obsessions include fears related to possibly being aroused by or attracted to a minor or the fear of intentionally or unintentionally having performed a sexual behavior with a minor in the past or doing so in the future.

7. Perinatal OCD:  The uncertainty and fear of harming one’s newborn baby or child, either physically or sexually.  Perinatal OCD is a subtype of OCD that can be experienced by both female and male primary caretakers, not just the person who delivers the baby. 

8. Scrupulosity or Moral OCD:  The fear and uncertainty about possibly offending one’s religious figure (such as God), possibly performing a behavior that doesn’t align with one’s morals or religion, or the fear of not achieving a desired afterlife. 

9. Relationship OCD (commonly known as ROCD):  The uncertainty and fear related to knowing if one’s partner is “the one” or if their love for their partner is “pure” or “right.”  Relationship obsessions can also focus on a partner’s specific body part or their partner’s history. For more Information on Relationship OCD Click Here. 

10. Emotional Contamination OCD:  The uncertainty and fear that contact with a person, object, or place will alter them psychologically.  Emotional contamination OCD also involves the fear that the contaminated person’s “essence” will be transferred onto the person with OCD. 

11. Existential OCD:  The fear that uncertainty about the true purpose or meaning of one’s life. 

12. Obsessing about obsessing:  The uncertainty and fear that one will never be able to stop obsessing or having anxiety and intrusive thoughts.  This OCD subtype also involves the uncertainty related to whether they are engaging in treatment correctly or will recover from OCD.

13. Sensorimotor or Hyper-Awareness OCD:  The uncertainty and fear that one will never stop noticing a sensation or feeling (breath, eyes, blinking, hads tingling, a specific side of their body or body part, itches, and so on).

14. Hyper-Responsibility OCD:  The uncertainty and fear of being responsible for a tragic event, other people’s feelings, or well-being. 

15. Health Anxiety OCD:  The uncertainty and fear of having or developing a severe or terminal illness.  Health anxiety obsessions can also focus on the health of a loved one, such a a child or partner.

16. Perfectionism:  The uncertainty and fear related to not being perfect.  This doesn’t necessarily mean the person with perfectionism needs everything to be perfect.  Perfectionism can target one are of one’s life or can spread to every aspect of one’s life. 

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