The Different Types And Symptoms Of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Inception of OCD typically takes place during teenage years or young adult and children at times have symptoms similar to OCD but not necessarily so. It is important to note that OCD in children usually change and consequently a child with OCD symptoms will not automatically have OCD as an adult. It is essential to reduce the anxiety of a child by making changes in his environment and behavior.

The symptoms of OCD may increase and diminish over time and symptoms on the other hand get worse in times of stress. OCD afflicted individuals mostly have both obsessions and compulsions; however some experience not both but just one or the other. The manner in which OCD symptoms are experienced differs from person to person. Lastly, OCD symptoms can appear in vulnerable individuals in response to very precise conditions such as contamination or child birth.

There are five major types of OCD, but an individual may experience more than one disorder type, since the traits are not restricted. The five types of OCD are based on symptoms that most often appear in sufferers. The majority of people with obsessive-compulsive disorder drops into one of these categories:

Washers are characterized mainly by having compulsions with hand washing or cleaning. This group in the common types of OCD possesses an illogical fear of contamination with germs, viruses and dirt and lives in fear of acquiring them. Constant thought of becoming contaminated or contaminating other people gives them the impulse to wash and clean many times a day but will never feel safe or clean from contamination.

Checkers repetitively check things like if the doors have been locked or if the oven has been shut off, because they correlate these things with danger or harm. These individuals live in the fear that their failure to lock or switch something off will be the root cause of harm or disaster. Resulting with a drive to repeatedly check switches and locks around the house or office, perhaps around a hundred times a day. These may thwart the sufferer from accomplishing daily tasks due to these compulsive rituals that are time-consuming. Although the person is aware that this fear is irrational, he is worried of the occurrence of a terrible catastrophe if he forgets to complete the rituals.

Obsessionals experience superfluous, disturbing and dreadful thoughts and images of causing harm to others. Engaging in repetitive thoughts such as praying, counting, or saying a certain word over again, are their means to neutralize these disturbing thoughts. Some people who are experiencing this type of OCD has a feeling that something might horribly go wrong if he walks down a specific road, or associates a certain color or number with danger and bad luck because they represent horrible thoughts or have negative consequences. Most of the time it does not matter if reassurances were given for them to be satisfied or contented.

Orderers are focused on organizing things “rightly” such that they must organize things perfectly before beginning any task. Extremely distressed with things that has been touched, moved, or rearranged; this group of individuals who are preoccupied with organization and proportion are also called perfectionists because they ought to have a definite order around them. 

Hoarders dread the occurrence of something bad if something away is thrown. They hoard compulsively things they do not need or utilize. Hoarders have the feeling of a need to collect and keep everything. It may only be one type of item or a combination of things. While people collect things that may be useful, hoarders on the other hand gather more than what could possibly be used in a lifetime. OCD sufferers in this grouping ultimately find that it will result in an almost unfeasible condition to live as their houses and vehicles turn overcrowded and full of rubbish.

Many people having mild compulsions or obsessions seem illogical or strange, but are competent enough to direct their lives without much interference. With obsessive-compulsive disorder, such feelings, behaviors and thoughts cause great misery and take up so much time, and get in the way with relationships, job, or daily routine.