My Life With OCD

Types and Subtypes of OCD

Hi! Before we begin I'm going to let you all know I did a ton of research and have been wanting to do this chapter for a very long time but have been busy and yesterday was a terrible day for me, which I will explain and talk about possibly later in the chapter.

So, let's begin on the different types and subtypes of OCD that I have. Well let's start with how many types of OCD there are.
So when I was doing research it says there are 7 main types and the subtypes are just the particular way a persons OCD affects them.

So let's see, my OCD subtypes or types of OCD, are (that I learned from my parents and the OCD group on discord that I recently joined.)

Pure-O (Pure obsession/obsessive)
The most common type of OCD: Contamination
Real event
Body focused repetitive behaviors
Hyperawareness
Symmetry
Sexual obsessions
Existential
And scrupulosity (or religious)

So, Pure-Obsessive basically speaks for itself. I'm mainly obsessive, I don't have very many compulsions. I still have some compulsions but they aren't as "obvious" as some. Like in other chapters the different compulsions I have, half the time I don't even know they are compulsions. They also aren't very noticeable or obvious like I said before. So personally, half of the time I don't know what my brain is saying but it'll be going insane and thousands and thousands of thoughts a second. Maybe the same thing over and over, sometimes different.

Hmm now that I'm writing this I'm think maybe I should have a chapter on each of my types/subtypes. I'm not sure what I'll do, I'll probably do little previews in this chapter and if you guys want chapters on each type them then go ahead and ask, I love reading your comments and hearing your input and stuff.

Ok moving on.

The most common type of OCD, contamination. Well at least what I think to be the most common. Most of you probably already know what this one is, it kinda speaks for itself as well. So for me, I hate HATE sticky stuff, I get sticky stuff on me I freak out. It use to worse when I was younger but now I have more control of my freak out-ness. I also hate poop, yes most people do but mine is extreme. For example, if I think, just think I have some on me or got some on me I have to scrub my whole body over and over again till I feel clean. So basically contamination OCD is cleanness, which is the most stereotyped OCD. Like when you see those stupid game ads where it's like "DoEs ThIs BoThEr YoUr OCD?!" And It's some game where a room is dirty or whatever. It's dumb.

Real Event OCD takes something that actually happened in your past, whereas OCD normally takes feared scenarios that could take place. Real event takes what has happened before and torments you. For example, I have a tendency to write people off very quickly, why? Because in the past people have said I've bothered them so now I don't talk to people much because I'm scared I'm bothering them. People also have hurt me and so I write them off so I don't have to go through that again. I don't mean I just write off that person who hurt me, I write off all people. I'm not sure if that's real event OCD, I think that's just you get burn and you back off type of thing. But back to real event, another example is I could have picked something up but didn't and now someone slipped on it and it's my fault they are hurt even though they saw it in front of them. That's a terrible example but I'm leaving it there haha.

MOVING ON!

Body focused repetitive behaviors is skin picking and hair pulling. I have TTM (Trichotillomania) it's all about hair pulling, I pick at my legs and the hair on my head. My dad focuses on his beard and eyebrows. I also pick at my skin, mostly my heels and fingers. If I'm extremely stressed I'll dig my nails in my arms and pinch them too. I also can't be trusted with scissors because I'll cut at my hands but just the top layer of skin. Don't tell my mom cause she already doesn't trust me with scissors for other reasons (like I cut stuff. Just random stuff nothing major, but um... I put a hole in the couch so... ya...).

Oh here is my favorite, Hyperawareness. So, this subtype of my OCD actually made us think I was on the Spectrum because it's a lot like that. I have sensitive smell, taste, hearing, touch. So I hate sticky stuff, it freaks me out, having it on me makes me all tense and freaked out. I am sensitive to smells, I can smell things most people can't. Same with hearing (even though have the time I am also semi hard of hearing haha). Also another thing part of is overstimulation. So yesterday my OCD was so bad, there was so many thoughts and so many emotions going at once that I couldn't really process anything. It was so bad, I was so angry too, I've noticed anger is apart of it when I'm overstimulated. Since anger is a secondary emotion it's easier to feel. Anyways, I also hate to be touched most the time. Especially if I'm emotional I hate to be touched.

Another common one is symmetry basically speaks for itself again, two things have to be the same. I have this with certain things, like Minecraft, my house, the walls have to be the same. Crafting table, furnace, chest, door. Other side same thing. I don't really have much to say on this one since it's common and it only effects me with certain things.

Sexual obsession is a bit harder to talk about. You can skip this part if you want I don't care, but anyways for me it's mainly I fear I'll do something sexual even though I haven't. Like sexually abuse a child or something (no I don't do that that's one of the fears/obsessions) like in the article an example is "a mother fears she'll sexually abuse her child even though she never has." It's like that, I hate change babies diapers because I fear people will think I'm doing something wrong. So ya that's... that. I don't have much on this because it's an awkward topic for me.

Existential is basically having stupid questions. Like for me, do dinosaurs exist? There are facts that they do, proof that they do, but I still wonder. Also if you have this type of OCD I'm not calling your thoughts or questions or you stupid, I just am calling mine stupid cause... ya... so sorry if you take that the wrong way I don't mean harm by it.

Scrupulosity OCD is religious OCD. So for example, I feel worthless to do certain things, I feel worthless to pray, to study, to sometimes go to meetings. I have trouble writing letters because I feel worthless to do so. For those who don't know, I'm a Jehovah's Witness. So I have trouble with a lot of things.

Ok so that's this chapter. I don't really have anything elder to talk about, let me know if you guys even finished it this far by voting or commenting. Also let me know if you you want individual chapters on my types of OCD. Like full chapters instead of just talking about them quickly.