There are several types of OCD, with symptoms that go far beyond the stereotypes—not just repeatedly turning lights on and off, cleaning, or checking that the car is locked. From contamination to symmetry or mainly obsessional OCD, read on to understand the different subtypes.
Key Takeaways
- OCD has many subtypes beyond common stereotypes like excessive cleaning or checking, though all involve distressing obsessions and compulsions.
- Common types of OCD include contamination, harm, intrusive thoughts without visible compulsions, and symmetry obsessions, each with distinct themes and behaviors.
- Less commonly discussed types of OCD are related to relationships, false memories, and magical thinking.
- Several related conditions—including hoarding disorder, skin picking, trichotillomania, and body dysmorphic disorder—share similarities with OCD but are separate diagnoses.
- Trying to suppress OCD symptoms often just reinforces them, so if you’re struggling to manage on your own, consider seeking support from a therapist.
Often, when people think about obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), images of someone cleaning excessively or repeatedly turning lights on and off may arise. However, OCD is a mental health condition with multiple subtypes, each with its own set of symptoms.
This means the disorder can present in different ways, even if all subtypes share the presence of disruptive or distressing obsessions and compulsions.
The number of OCD subtypes isn’t universally agreed upon, and some are defined differently depending on the source. In addition, it’s possible to have symptoms of more than one type.
Today, we’re exploring both common and lesser-known OCD subtypes, as well as related conditions, to help make this disorder easier to understand and recognize.
Common Types of OCD & Their Symptoms
The different types of OCD are generally categorized according to the types of obsessions—and the compulsions that usually accompany them.
Understanding them can serve as a helpful guide to the disorder as a whole—so, here are some of the most commonly known ones:
Contamination obsessions
Contamination OCD is the distressing belief that things are dirty or contaminated, and that you could harm yourself or others through exposure to germs.
To cope with these feelings, you may spend a lot of time washing or cleaning excessively to relieve the anxiety—until you ‘feel clean’—or entirely avoid triggers.
Common worries include:
- Public toilets
- Shaking hands
- Door handles
- Staircase bannisters
- Sex
- Hospitals and other health-related places
Mental contamination
These obsessions occur when someone feels mistreated or humiliated, leaving them feeling emotionally “unclean.”
Mental contamination shares washing compulsions with contamination obsessions, but differs in that the trigger is often human in its nature rather than objects or physical contact.
Harm obsessions
These involve an intense fear that you could harm yourself or others by not performing certain rituals (i.e., checking compulsions).
For instance, if you don’t turn the stove knobs on and off a number of times, you fear a fire will burn down your house; or you repeatedly reread text messages from a loved one because an intrusive thought convinces you something terrible might happen to them.
Common harm obsessions or compulsions include:
- Door locks or windows
- Car
- Valuable items such as keys and wallet
- House lights or candles
- Driving route
Obsessions with no visible compulsions
This subtype is related to intrusive thoughts that are often disturbing in nature and related to aggressive, religious, or sexual themes (e.g., thoughts of attacking someone). They can include mental compulsions, such as counting, praying, or repeating certain words.
These obsessions leave the individual terrified by the fact that they’re having these thoughts, which is what leads to the compulsions—and also a key aspect that we need to remember: they do not ever act on these thoughts.
Symmetry obsessions
Symmetry OCD is related to a strong need for everything to be arranged symmetrically until it feels ‘just right.’ However, it can also involve repeatedly thinking or saying words or sentences until the task feels perfect.
These obsessions typically trigger counting, arranging, or ordering compulsions.
Other Types of OCD
Other types of OCD that are less commonly discussed but still affect individuals are:
- Relationship OCD: Obsessive thoughts regarding your romantic relationship (e.g., concerns about whether your partner loves you or about their happiness)
- “Just Right” OCD: Compulsions such as straightening, touching, tapping, lining up—may include symmetry obsessions, but not always
- False Memory OCD: Excessive doubts and self-questioning (e.g., worrying you may have stolen something or forgotten to pay)
- Magical Thinking OCD: A belief that something bad will happen if you don’t engage in unrelated behaviors (e.g., something terrible will happen to a loved one if you don’t text them an even number of times)
OCD-Related Conditions
There are certain mental health conditions closely related to OCD, whether because they involve obsessions or compulsions. Here are a few:
Hoarding disorder
Hoarding disorder was considered a subtype of OCD until it became its own diagnosis in the DSM-5.
It involves collecting items of seemingly little value (e.g., clothes, receipts, magazines, containers) due to excessive attachment to them and a fear that they may be needed eventually.
The result is often a living space that is excessively cluttered, to the point of becoming impossible to live in.
Skin picking disorder (excoriation)
Similarly recognized as a separate diagnosis, it involves continuously picking at the skin, causing infections, lesions, and intense distress. It affects around 3.45% of the population.
Hair-pulling disorder (trichotillomania)
It involves a strong need to pull hair—from the scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows, or elsewhere. Its treatment often includes cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and habit-reversal training.
Body dysmorphic disorder
Body dysmorphic disorder involves excessive concerns with one or more perceived flaws or defects in the body that others don’t see or consider minor.
It’s characterized by constantly checking appearance or grooming, or repeatedly comparing your appearance to others.
Find Support Through OCD Therapy in Baltimore, MD
Are you tired of letting fear and worry control your life? Do you feel like you’re losing yourself and your days in constant anxiety and all the rituals to relieve it?
Our Baltimore-based OCD therapists specialize in helping people break free from negative patterns, disrupt the OCD cycle, and challenge intrusive thoughts. Reach out to learn more, or schedule a free 15-minute consultation here.
FAQs
What are the 4 main types of OCD?
All types of OCD involve obsessions and compulsions; the themes of obsessive thoughts can vary. As such, the 4 main OCD subtypes are:
- Contamination/washing
- Harm/checking
- Symmetry/arranging
- Intrusive thoughts
How do you calm OCD thoughts?
Trying to suppress OCD thoughts often just reinforces them, so changing the way you respond to them is more important.
Some tips include:
- Labeling thoughts (e.g., planning, judging, comparing, analyzing)
- Delaying compulsions, gradually increasing the time between thoughts and compulsions
- Using grounding techniques, such as breathing exercises, relaxation, and mindfulness
If you’re struggling to manage symptoms on your own, consider seeking professional support from a therapist.
What causes OCD to develop?
There is no single cause for OCD. Like most mental health conditions, it’s caused by a combination of factors: genetics, environment, and brain chemistry, to name a few.
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