The 12 types of obsessions (symptoms and characteristics)

How do the different types of obsessions manifest themselves and what disorder may be behind them?

Obsessions are intrusive, irrational and recurrent thoughts, ideas or images (that appear over and over again), and that feel beyond the control of the person who suffers from them.

Generally, the obsessive person does not want to have these ideas or thoughtsThey usually provoke anxiety or discomfort and try to avoid them. The behaviors performed to avoid the obsessions are called compulsions. This obsession-compulsion routine is what is known as OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder).

Characteristics of OCD

The irrational thoughts that can lead to compulsive acts may vary depending on the individual. Some people may have superstitious thoughts that cause them anxiety, others may believe that everything is contaminated and must be cleaned so as not to suffer from disease, and others may take order to a pathological extreme because of perfectionist thoughts. Others may take tidiness to a pathological extreme because of perfectionistic thoughts..

Obsessive people have some characteristics in common. According to the Obsessive-Compulsive Cognitions Working Group (OCCWG), obsessive-compulsive people have some common characteristics. (OCCWG), the most important cognitive variables affecting this condition are:

• Perfectionism
• Excessive responsibility
• Beliefs of the importance of thoughts
• Low tolerance for uncertainty
• Overestimation of threat
• Low mental flexibility

Types of obsessions

Obsessions can be classified in different ways. But... what are these ways of classification?

Here is a list of the different types of obsessions.

According to the type of triggering stimulus

Depending on whether the obsession is felt as unacceptable or realistic, there are two types.

Autogenous obsessions

This type of ego-dystonic obsessions, that is, they are felt as repugnant, unacceptable, inconsistent with one's own self-concept. They appear abruptly in the consciousness without the evocative stimuli being identified. They include sexual, aggressive and immoral thoughts or impulses.

2. Reactive obsessions

These thoughts are perceived as realistic and rational and the evocative stimuli are external and identifiable. For example, catastrophic thoughts, thoughts about contamination, asymmetry, etc.

According to the content

The contents of obsessions can vary. These are the different types of obsessions depending on the content.

3. Symmetrical or order obsessions

One of the most frequent obsessions has its origin in the need to have everything symmetrically aligned and correctly ordered. and correctly ordered. The compulsions associated with this type of obsession consist of making sure that everything is in order and well placed, otherwise the subject would suffer great discomfort or anxiety.

Some characteristic behaviors of this type of thoughts are:

• Having everything neat and tidy in its place at all times.
• Having pictures hung straight and aligned.
• Having canned food all in the same way.
• Having clothes on the rail all hanging perfectly and looking the same way.
• Having everything spotless, with no marks or stains on windows and surfaces.

People with this type of OCD spend a lot of time trying to have everything perfect, so they are said to be perfectionists. In extreme cases, the person may prevent other individuals from coming to their home so that they do not leave anything disorganized or out of place.

4. Pollution obsessions

As the name suggests, these people think that the environment may be contaminated. For example, when they go to the toilet, they think that when their skin comes into contact with the cloth on the door they may suffer from some kind of disease. This causes them to have the need to compulsively clean and wash themselves.

Cleaning or washing often takes place several times a day, with repetitive hand or body washing rituals until the person feels they are clean. Individuals with this type of obsessions may avoid:

• Using public restrooms
• Coming into contact with chemicals
• Shaking hands (fear of catching germs from other people).
• Touching elevator buttons or door handles.
• Using public phones (fear of catching germs from other people).
• Having surgery or going to your family doctor to prevent medical instruments from coming in contact with your skin.

5. Mental contamination obsessions

This type of obsession is similar to the previous one, but is not related to someone coming into contact with potentially dirty or contaminated objects or environments. Rather, thoughts of mental contamination arise when the person feels mistreated, physically or mentally, through critical or verbally abusive comments.through critical or verbally abusive comments.

This causes them to feel dirty, but dirty internally.

6. Sensorimotor obsessions

Sensorimotor obsessions have to do with an exaggerated awareness of certain bodily sensations. Some examples are:

• BreathingObsession about whether breathing is shallow or deep, or the focus is on some other sensation of breathing.
• Blinkingobsessive fixation on blinking.
• Swallowing/salivationSwallowing: the person focuses on the frequency of swallowing, the amount of salivation produced, etc.
• Awareness of specific body partse.g., perception of the side of the nose while trying to read.

7. Sexual obsessions

These obsessions are thoughts of causing unintentional sexual harm, or about constantly questioning one's sexuality.. A person experiencing this type of intrusive thoughts will avoid public places, such as shopping malls, or schools to avoid coming into close contact with children.

Some examples are:

• Fearing being a pedophile and being sexually attracted to children.
• Fear of being sexually attracted to members of one's own family.
• Thoughts about touching a child inappropriately.
• Intrusive sexual thoughts about God, saints or religious figures.

8. Homosexual obsessions

These thoughts are similar to the previous ones, but characterized by the fear of being attracted to members of the same sex.. Both the previous point and this one make the person feel so ashamed that he/she is unable to seek help.

9. Obsessions about committing violent acts

These obsessions are characterized by the fear of committing violent acts against loved ones or other people.. For that reason they will avoid situations in which some acts like these can take place:

• Use of kitchen knives and other sharp objects (the compulsion would consist of hiding or avoiding sharp objects).
• Violently harming children or loved ones.
• Killing innocent people.
• Thoughts about accidentally touching someone inappropriately, with the purpose of hurting them.

10. Religious obsessions

These obsessions cause people to fixate on religion and religious practice.. This causes a series of compulsive behaviors such as, for example, that some prayers must be said over and over again, prayers must be omitted or recited incorrectly, or blasphemous words must be shouted out loud in a religious place. Obsessive thoughts may include worrying about committing sins or offending God, not praying enough, or fear of not being forgiven, among others.

11. Catastrophizing obsessions

This type of obsession is characterized by the person thinking that something bad is going to happen if he/she does not perform the compulsion.. For example, fear of committing a negligence, that a robbery will occur if he/she does not close the door or to be responsible for a catastrophe.

12. Obsessions for lack of control

The person has obsessive thoughts about losing control.. For example: doubts or concerns that one may lose control of oneself, thoughts of saying racist words, thoughts of saying offensive comments, or thoughts of engaging in theft.