The most amazing thing happens when you begin to educate yourself about OCD.
You learn that those irrational thoughts and fears — the same fears that you spent years trying to make sense of — turn out to be textbook OCD.
What’s even more powerful? Deciding to connect with others in the OCD community and discovering that there is another human out there (most likely waaaay more than one) who has thought the exact — and I mean EXACT — same things.
This life changing realization is what drove us to create Presently. To let others know that no matter how “crazy” you think you are, you are not alone.
Here are some of the most common OCD obsessions and compulsions (we could literally check all of these off our OCD bucket list... how about you?)
1. Obsession: Persistent Doubting
Example: Worry that the front door is unlocked, even after having just locked it
Compulsion: Checking
Going out of their way to check that the door is locked, e.g., driving back to the house or repeatedly getting out of bed
Best Presently Reminder: Embrace uncertainty
2. Obsession: Fear of contamination
Example: Constant anxiety of catching or spreading a disease
Compulsion: Cleaning
Example: Excessive washing of hands or personal items even after they are reasonably clean
Best Presently Reminder: Brave the uncomfortable
3. Obsession: Violent intrusive thoughts
Example: Intrusive, unwanted violent images of strangers, family or friends
Compulsion: "Undoing" thoughts
Repetitive neutralizing thoughts or seeking reassurance from others that a violent act was not committed
Best Presently Reminder: I am separate from my mind
4. Obsession: Fear of causing harm
Example: Fear of accidentally hitting a pedestrian while driving
Compulsion: Checking
Example: Driving past the crosswalks to check that there were no injured people
Best Presently Reminder: Brave the uncomfortable
5. Obsession: Scrupulosity
Example: Overly concerned with behaving immorally and the idea of what is "right vs. wrong
Compulsion: Confessing
Excessive praying or feeling the need to confess. Avoiding situations thought to be morally wrong
Best Presently Reminder: Embrace uncertainty
6. Obsession: Superstitions
Example: Preoccupation with lucky or unlucky numbers
Compulsion: Avoidance or counting
Avoiding writing unlucky numbers or repeating activities the "correct" number of times
Best Presently Reminder: I let go of what I can't control
7. Obsession: Sexual Orientation
Fear of being in denial of one's "true" sexual orientation
Compulsion: Mental/Physical Checking
Analyzing self to see whether their behaviors align them with a particular sexual orientation
Best Presently Reminder: Embrace uncertainty
8. Relationship Uncertainty
Example: Excessive doubts about whether their partner is right for them
Compulsion: Reassurance seeking
Engaging in and analyzing behavior to find any evidence that the relationship will be successful
Best Presently Reminder: Embrace uncertainty
9. Existential Doubt
Example: Fear of the uncertainty of their human existence and perceptions of reality.
Compulsion: Mental Checking
Reviewing events of the day to see if they felt real or verify they actually happened.
Best Presently Reminder: My thoughts are passing clouds
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