Are You Sensitive to Order and Symmetry? You Have OCD! Let's Know 4 Different Types of OCD!

4 Different Types of OCD & How They Manifest

This article is about different types of OCD and more, Stay with us. Obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD is a mental illness that is exhibited by repetitive, unwanted, or intrusive thoughts. The obsessions Often followed by an urge to do something repeatedly. It is a very serious mental illness that causes a great deal of suffering to those who have it.

But did you know that there can be many different ways in which OCD manifests itself to help you get a better understanding of OCD?

Here are four different types of OCD and how they manifest.

1. Intrusive Thoughts and Ruminations

The first on our list about different types of OCD is the the Intrusive Thoughts and Ruminations. When someone with OCD suffers from intrusive thoughts, it's not the occasional disturbing thought now and then, it can be normal for people to have an intrusive thought as they go about their day.

They may think of something worrisome or unpleasant and brush the thought aside. With OCD, it's a different story. When someone with OCD has intrusive thoughts, they're repetitive and often constant. They can obsess on the thought for minutes or even hours. These thoughts can range in topic and be anything, but some common ones are:

• Violent intrusive thoughts, which involve a fear of harming yourself or a loved one.
• Sexual intrusive thoughts, which can involve unwanted thoughts of causing sexual harm to someone or obsessively questioning one's sexuality.
• And others can involve obsessions on religion and the fear of committing sin, analyzing one's relationship excessively.
• Magical thinking intrusive thoughts, in which one fears that simply thinking about thought can make it more likely to happen.

These thoughts are often followed by rituals or compulsion in order to make the bad thing not happen, or to simply assure oneself that they don't feel a certain way about a negative thought.

Ruminations

Ruminations in OCD are when one dwells upon a question or a theme that is unproductive and likely to lead nowhere, dwelled upon for an excessive amount of time, more than your average philosopher. These are often different from intrusive thoughts, as they can be indulged in rather than resisted.

Someone with OCD may excessively ruminate about life after death, visualizing every scenario to the detail, leaving them detached and preoccupied from what is going on around them as they're attending to the thoughts in their mind.

You can also find different types of OCD and related examples about it in this table:

2. Checking 

The 2nd on our list about different types of OCD is the Checking. OCD can present itself in the need to check on something.

Checking is often enacted out of a fear of something bad will happen such as a fire, a burglary, or harm to loved ones. This can display itself in a variety of ways.

Someone may check in with their family members to gain reassurance about their fears, or maybe they feel an unrelenting need to check the door repeatedly to make sure it's locked out of fear of a burglary. Someone with OCD may even try to recall past memories to make sure they felt a certain way or didn't cause someone harm.

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For example, someone with OCD may be obsessing on their thoughts, questioning their sexuality. When they know outside of the obsessing, what their sexual preference is, the individual may check or pay attention to their body for arousal. But because they're focused on not wanting this response, the body may automatically generate feelings of arousal.

As research has shown,

Our bodies often react to what is actually relevant, and not always what we desire and value.

Or, another example, someone with those CD may check an email they've written over and over, analyzing for any imperfections, and fear they may have written something wrong or will offend someone. Could you imagine writing an email to your boss only to check it for minutes on end, all due to a fear you may have written something that could come across as inappropriate, and therefore lose your job as a result. We all generally need our jobs. 

So while this fear may seem to derive from an irrational place, those checking their email for the hundredth time are often afraid of losing something important to them. This is a common fear for those suffering from OCD. In the sense that they love or value something so much, they will strongly feel the need to act out these compulsions to protect what they love.

And since what you love and value can often change in your life, OCD will grab a hold of what it is you're enjoying and valuing, and try to manipulate it inside of you mind according to your fears. This is one of the many dark features of OCD.

3. Contamination or Mental Contamination

Contamination

The 3th on our list about different types of OCD is the Contamination. Among those with OCD, there are generally two types of contamination obsessions. One is simply labeled as contamination. Contamination is often characterized by the strong fear of being dirty or contracting germs from objects or people. Someone may not like to shake hands as they have an obsession with contracting a virus from someone else, or someone may be excessively brushing their teeth or scrubbing their hands for minutes on end, out of fear of not feeling clean enough or feeling just right. A lot of physical damage can occur due to these compulsions.

Mental contamination

The 3th on our list about different types of OCD, part B is Mental contamination. Mental contamination is an area of OCD researchers are just recently starting to get an understanding of. It can be evoked when someone feels as if they've been treated badly, or if someone says an abusive remark to them. The person will engage in compulsions to wash away this bad feeling, such as showering or acting out other compulsions.

If you would like to know more about different types of OCD, you can check Here.

4. Symmetry and Orderliness

The 4th on our list about different types of OCD, part B is Symmetry and Orderliness. This type of OCD manifests in different ways, such a:

• Organizing one's books or DVDs
• Making sure everything is neat
• Or clothes folded perfectly and hanging the same way

While a lot of us may simply like symmetry, but those with OCD focused on symmetry and order are obsessed about it and did not gain any enjoyment out of organizing to ensure it feels just right. Remember, what may look organized and clean to someone who doesn't have OCD, may feel wrong to someone with OCD, because it's about the feeling.

Logically, they know their books are neatly stacked and their closet is fairly organized, but they can't shake the strong feeling that it isn't just right. This feeling may even pester them throughout the entire day, which is why they so strongly feel the need to act out the compulsion. With OCD, the compulsion often only provides relief for, often, literally a second.

The thoughts and obsessions play on a loop, leaving a repetitive cycle, and compulsions are an urge to simply be free of fear, and, if for only just a second, to feel right.

Risk Factors for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

We know that different types of OCD can happen in order to various factors. Here, we will investigate these factors separately.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental illness characterized by obsessive thoughts and behaviors. Obsessive thoughts are unwanted, intrusive, and repetitive thoughts, images, or urges that can be very distressing. People with OCD often know that these thoughts are irrational, but they cannot get rid of them. Compulsive behaviors (or mental acts) are behaviors that the person performs to reduce the anxiety caused by obsessive thoughts.

People with OCD know that these behaviors are pointless, but they cannot stop doing them.

OCD can significantly disrupt a person's life and make it difficult to carry out everyday activities. However, OCD is treatable, and most people can significantly reduce their symptoms with proper treatment.

The exact cause of OCD is unknown, but there are several factors that may increase a person's risk of developing the disorder. In this article, we will discuss some of these risk factors.

Genetics

One of the strongest risk factors for OCD is a family history of the disorder. Studies have shown that if one of your parents or an identical twin has OCD, your risk of developing it is significantly increased.

Researchers believe that multiple genes may play a role in OCD. However, no single gene has been definitively linked to the disorder.

Brain Biology

Abnormalities in certain parts of the brain may also be linked to OCD. Brain imaging studies have shown that people with OCD have abnormal activity in the frontal cortex, basal ganglia, and thalamus. These areas of the brain are involved in controlling thoughts, emotions, and behavior.

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Environmental Factors

Certain life events may also increase a person's risk of developing OCD. Strep throat infections: Some strep throat infections, particularly group A streptococcal infections, have been linked to an increased risk of OCD in children. These infections may trigger an immune response that attacks the brain and leads to OCD.

Trauma: Traumatic experiences in childhood, such as abuse or neglect, have also been linked to an increased risk of OCD.

Other environmental factors: Some studies have shown that exposure to certain toxins or medications may also increase a person's risk of developing OCD.

It is important to note that having one or more risk factors does not mean that you will definitely develop OCD. Many people have risk factors but never develop the disorder.

If you are concerned about OCD, it is important to talk to a mental health professional.

Treatment for OCD

Fortunately, OCD is treatable. The most effective treatment involves a combination of therapy and medication. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT is a type of therapy that helps people with OCD identify and change their thoughts and behaviors.

Medication: Several types of medications can be effective for treating OCD, such as antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications. With proper treatment, most people with OCD can significantly reduce their symptoms and live normal, productive lives.

Fortunately, there is good news and hope in some of this. There are therapists who do understand and specialize in treating OCD. Some of those affected by OCD have seen productive results through cognitive behavioral therapy from a therapist who does understand the condition.

This video demonstrates some facts about the different types of OCD.

If you suspect you or someone else may have OCD, we highly recommend you seek professional help. So, do you now understand OCD a little bit more?

This article was about different types of OCD. We hope you like it. If ypu know any other specific kind of different types of OCD, tell us in the comments.