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What Are the 4 Types of OCD?

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Types OCD

There are four types of OCD: Checking, Contamination, Hoarding, and Ruminations.

Checking: The need to check things repeatedly (e.g., locks, stoves) to make sure they are safe.
Contamination: The fear of becoming contaminated by germs or dirt. This may lead to excessive hand-washing, cleaning, or avoidance of places that are perceived to be dirty.
Hoarding: The need to keep things even if they are useless or unwanted (e.g., old newspapers). This may cause severe clutter in the person’s home.
Ruminations: Repeating and intrusive thoughts or images (e.g., worrying about getting sick). These thoughts may be accompanied by compulsions (e.g., counting) in an attempt to relieve anxiety.

Contamination

What are the four types of OCD?

There are four main types of OCD: checking, washing and cleaning, hoard- ing, and rumination. People with checking compulsions often feel the need to repeatedly check things like appliances, locks, or lights to make sure they are turned off or working properly. People with washing and cleaning compulsions often feel the need to wash their hands or clean their homes excessively to avoid contamination. Hoarding compulsions involve an excessive need to save or collect items, even if those items are useless or clutter the home. Rumination compulsions involve obsessively thinking about something over and over again without being able to stop.

Perfection

Perfectionism, according to Merriam-Webster dictionary, is “a disposition to regard anything short of perfection with distaste or abhorrence.” In other words, it’s the tendency to see any imperfections as failures. The problem with perfectionism is that it sets incredibly high standards standards that are often unattainable. And when we don’t meet these standards, we beat ourselves up. We may feel like we’re not good enough or that we don’t deserve happiness.

Types of Perfectionism

There are different types of perfectionism all of which can lead to feelings of dissatisfaction and low self-esteem. Some common types include:

All-or-Nothing Thinking: You see things as black and white either you did something perfectly or you failed completely. There’s no middle ground. For example, let’s say you didn’t get an A on a test. In your mind, this means you failed the whole test even if you got a B+.

Overgeneralizing: You tend to draw broad conclusions based on one single event and these conclusions are usually negative. For example, if you make a mistake at work, you might think “I always make mistakes; I must be incompetent.”

Mind Reading: You assume that others are judging you harshly and think negatively about you even if there’s no evidence to support this belief. So, if someone doesn’t return your smile, you might think “They must think I’m stupid.”

Catastrophizing: You always expect the worst possible outcome in any given situation and then prepare for (and often dread) this outcome happening.. So if your boss asks to speak with you in private, instead of thinking “Maybe they want to praise me for something I did well,”you might immediately jump to “I’m going to get fired.” This type of thinking creates a lot of unnecessary stress and anxiety.. magnifying problems until they seem insurmountable..”

Doubt harm

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by intrusive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive, ritualistic behaviors (compulsions) that are time-consuming and significantly interfere with a person’s quality of life. OCD affects men, women, and children of all ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds.

There are four main types of OCD: checking, contamination/cleaning, hoarding, and rumination/doubt.

Checking compulsions are driven by a fear of harm or mistake. A person with this type of OCD may obsessively check the locks on their doors or windows to make sure they are secure or repeatedly check the stove to make sure it is turned off. They may also have compulsive rituals around organization or symmetry in an attempt to prevent something bad from happening.

Contamination/cleaning compulsions are driven by a fear of germs or illness. A person with this type of OCD may obsessively wash their hands or clean their home in an attempt to prevent themselves from becoming sick. They may also avoid touching doorknobs, shaking hands with others, or using public restrooms for fear of contamination.

Hoarding compulsions are driven by a need to hold on to objects for fear that they will be needed in the future. A person with this type of OCD may collect unused items such as newspapers or clothing even though they have no use for them. They may also have difficulty getting rid of things because they feel like they might need them someday. This can lead to cluttered living spaces and significant distress when someone tries to take away their hoarder’s possessions.

Forbidden thoughts

Forbidden Thoughts OCD can be extremely distressing and debilitating. It can cause people to withdraw from their loved ones and social activities. They may start to avoid places or situations where they might be exposed to triggering stimuli. In severe cases, people with Forbidden Thoughts OCD may become housebound or even suicidal.

There is hope for those suffering from this disorder. With proper treatment, which often includes exposure therapy and medication, people with Forbidden Thoughts OCD can learn to manage their symptoms and live fulfilling lives.