11 typical obsessions and compulsions in OCD

We describe the main obsessive thoughts and rituals of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

If you think of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder you may think of the image of the manic Melvin Udall dodging tiles in It doesn't get any better (As good as it gets).

The great Jack Nicholson appears in the film obsessed with order and neatness, perfectly aligning his slippers, or being unable to go to bed without having locked the four locks on the door several times. These rituals are only a small example of the multiple manias that the novelist presents, being his life articulated around them.

What is obsessive-compulsive disorder?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder, popularly known as OCD, is a disorder characterized by obsessive thoughts and compulsive actions such as excessive cleaning, checking, tidying or hoarding.

Obsessions are repetitive and unwanted thoughts, images or impulses that cause unwanted, repetitive thoughts, images or impulses that cause anxiety and discomfort for people with OCD. Obsessions occur invasively, regardless of the person's will, and become so frequent and disabling that they can completely dominate the life of the OCD sufferer.

The person who has these obsessive thoughts tries to ignore or suppress them. To do so, he or she carries out compulsions or compulsive rituals, which aim to neutralize the obsessions and their feared consequences.

Compulsions are like motor or cognitive behaviors. (praying, counting numbers) repetitive behaviors that are performed according to certain rules, in a stereotyped manner. The purpose of these behaviors or thoughts is to prevent or reduce distress, or to avoid a feared situation or event.

Most common obsessions

Among the most common obsessions in OCD we find, among others, those related to dirt and contamination, those of order and those of checking.

1. Ideas of contamination

One of the most common types of obsessions are contamination obsessions. These are characterized by an exaggerated exaggerated fear of dirtThey are characterized by an exaggerated fear of dirt, germs, contagion or disease.

Often the fear in these patients may be of feeling dirty, and they may spend a great deal of time washing themselves. These ideas can be focused on another person as well, such as fearing that a loved one will get sick or die from an infection or germs.

2. Need for verification or pathological doubt.

The obsession of these individuals consists of to check constantly that they have not had an oversight that makes them responsible for the feared negative consequences, for example causing a fire by forgetting to turn off the stove, leaving the faucet running, or not locking the door when leaving the house.

Excessive doubt and the need to check commonly lead to checking rituals.

3. Need for order or symmetry

In this case the concern is to arranging or ordering things "perfectlyperforming certain activities in an exact, symmetrical or balanced way, such as parking correctly or arranging clothes meticulously.

The thought that is at the base of the obsessive idea is: "It is absolutely essential that everything is tidy and in its place".

4. Aggressive and sexual obsessions

These individuals present excessive fears of harming others or committing to others or committing an unacceptable sexual act, such as thinking that they may stab a loved one, fantasizing about sexually abusing someone, or an exaggerated fear of being homosexual.

Many are horrified by their obsessions and do not discuss them to others out of shame, mistakenly believing that thinking something objectionable is equivalent to doing it.

5. Religious obsessions

The excessive fear in this case is based on committing sins, blasphemingnot praying enough, fear of going to hell or of not being forgiven, etc. The behaviors or compulsions that they perform to eliminate their anxiety can be to pray repeatedly or to go to church numerous times.

Most frequent compulsions or rituals

The following is a description of the most commonly described rituals in OCD cases. Many of these types of compulsion are directly related to the obsessions described above.

1. Cleaning

Washing is the compulsion most frequently associated associated with the contamination obsession. People with this type of compulsion may clean their hands too often, as did Melvin Udall, who washed his hands three times in a row every time he came home and used different new soaps which he then threw away.

Other examples include excessive brushing of teeth, avoiding using public restrooms, or thorough housecleaning for fear of germs. This behavior typically occurs after contact or proximity to the contaminated object.

2. Of order or symmetry

The ritual seeks to alleviate a fear that if something is not done a misfortune will occurThe compulsive actions are derived from the need for symmetry or order, or to mitigate the unpleasant feeling that things are not as they should be. These compulsive actions are derived from the need for symmetry or order.

Some examples would be avoiding stepping on black tiles, ordering things according to certain predetermined criteria, etc.

3. Repetition

Individuals are characterized by insistently repeating phrases or behaviorsThey believe that this will prevent the feared catastrophe from occurring. They may want to always follow certain routines, such as always eating at the same table in the same cafeteria, or always going to work by the same route.

4. Accumulation OCD

In this type of OCD, the person has the need to to keep all kinds of elements for their possible usefulness in the future. They may accumulate a large amount of unnecessary things such as old newspapers, empty bottles or cardboard boxes.

5. Checking

They focus on to prevent the occurrence of potential catastrophic events. They are associated with pathological doubt and the need for verification.

In general, those who perform these rituals tend to use the strategy of reassurance, asking people close to them questions such as "Did you see me put out the fire?" or "Did I close the door at home?".

6. Mental compulsions

These are thoughts or mental acts that, like observable behaviors, are performed to neutralize or reduce the anxiety caused by the obsession. It is common to repeating words, phrases or numbers in order to alleviate distress.

Mental compulsions are often confused with obsessions because they are covert rather than motor behaviors; the fundamental difference is that obsessions generate anxiety and compulsions reduce or prevent it.