{"id":126590,"date":"2022-10-11T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-11T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/?p=126590"},"modified":"2023-02-09T15:20:16","modified_gmt":"2023-02-09T15:20:16","slug":"different-types-of-ocd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/different-types-of-ocd.htm","title":{"rendered":"The Different Types of OCD – The Truth You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"types

photo by Cottonbro for Pexels<\/p><\/div>\n

by Andrea M. Darcy<\/span><\/p>\n

TV and films now love to portray characters with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Which has added awareness but also created unhelpful myths. So what are the actual different types of OCD you should be aware of? <\/span><\/p>\n

The different types of OCD<\/span><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s important to differentiate between<\/strong> types of OCD used as a short hand when discussing what you are going through, and clinical types of OCD, as in what you can actually be diagnosed with by a mental health professional. <\/span><\/p>\n

So while on the internet you\u2019ll see talk of things like<\/strong> \u2018relationship OCD\u2019, \u2018pure OCD<\/a>\u2019, and \u2018checking OCD’? <\/span>These are NOT clinical terms you will be diagnosed with. <\/span>They are simply useful ways to discuss what you are going through, but on the other hand can be confusing and misleading.\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

And what is also important to know is that the way OCD is now diagnosed and the ‘official’ different types of OCD… have changed! As recently as this year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A quick recap about obsessive-compulsive disorder<\/h2>\n

It’s important to remember when discussing different types of OCD<\/strong> what obsessive-compulsive disorder actually consists of. Namely, obsessional thoughts<\/em> and compulsive acts.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Obsessions are recurrent thinking in the form of ideas, images, or impulses.<\/strong> You can’t stop them coming into your mind again and again, in the same persistent and upsetting form, causing you great distress.<\/p>\n

Compulsions are repetitive behaviours or rituals, where you can’t stop doing the same action even though<\/strong> it’s not at all enjoyable or useful. You believe that by doing this behaviour you will either prevent something bad from happening to you or others.<\/p>\n

The ‘popular’ types of OCD <\/span><\/h2>\n

So let\u2019s look at the common ways that OCD is described across the internet.<\/strong> You\u2019ll see articles claiming that there are four types! Five, six, seven! <\/span>And they way these types are organised is confusing, many mixing up types by obsessions and compulsions, or even by the areas of your life your OCD affects.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, a common list of \u2018types of OCD\u2019<\/strong> on the internet is: <\/span><\/p>\n

Checking<\/strong> (this is a compulsion, a behaviour where you check lights, stoves, security of your house, etc). <\/span><\/p>\n

Contamination<\/strong> (this on the other hand is an obsession. You have many thoughts about dangerous germs and viruses getting to you or your loved ones). <\/span><\/p>\n

\"differentSymmetry<\/strong> (again, a compulsion. You are convinced if you don’t ritually line up and arrange things, bad things will happen to you or someone else). <\/span><\/p>\n

Rumination and intrusive thoughts<\/strong> (and back we go to an obsession. Violent, sexual, or uncomfortable thinking is an obsession that drives you to one of several compulsions).<\/span><\/p>\n

Harm OCD<\/strong> is where your main obsession is harm coming to you or those you love.<\/p>\n

OCD divided into types by the area of life it most affects<\/strong> includes things like \u2018relationship OCD’ and \u2018SO OCD\u2019, sexual orientation OCD, where you have obsessions about your own sexuality. <\/span><\/p>\n

Again, none of these are actually really forms of OCD. <\/strong>They are just different ways of talking about how OCD might affect your life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And funnily enough, you never see talk of many now officially recognised\u00a0 related forms of obsessive-compulsive disorder, such as trichotillomania<\/a> (hair pulling), tic-related OCD, and hoarding.<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The OFFICIAL types of obsessive compulsive disorder<\/span><\/h2>\n

So let\u2019s talk about the official types of OCD. That you can actually be diagnosed with. <\/span><\/p>\n

The two main guidelines refereed to worldwide when diagnosing mental health disorders<\/strong> are America\u2019s infamous \u201cDSM\u201d, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders <\/a><\/span>. And then the \u201cICD\u201d<\/a>, the World Health Organisation\u2019s International Classification of Disease guide. <\/span><\/p>\n

We have recently seen new versions of both manuals with an all new way of diagnosing OCD.<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

OCD originally was classified under\u00a0<\/span>\u2018anxiety disorders\u2019 in the DSM, and a ‘neurotic, stress-related, or somatoform (psychosomatic) disorder’ in the ICD. But new research shows OCD is more driven by brain patterns than anxiety. So OCD now is its own standalone category.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The DSM<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"different

Photo by cdc for unsplash<\/p><\/div>\n

The DSM is now in its fifth edition. The DSM-5 , used <\/strong>to diagnose you if you live in America, now has the category of \u201cObsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders\u2019 (OCRD)<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

And as far as \u2018types\u2019 of OCD you can be diagnosed with, <\/span><\/strong> it refers to<\/span>:<\/span><\/p>\n