THERE ARE MANY TYPES OF OCD

Dr. Brodsky clarifies, "OCD takes thousands of forms, not just cleaning or checking...(read more)
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder takes thousands of different forms. It is not just contamination, washing, checking, cleaning, counting, symmetry, or setting things in order that you see on TV or in magazines. To find out if you have a type of OCD email a question to Dr. Brodsky for a free consultation. If you're ready to start, you can make an appointment online or just call 212-726-2390. In person sessions are in New York and New Jersey and teletherapy is nationwide in 36 states for OCD from Washington, DC to Walla Walla, Washington state. We're everywhere you are!


Just being neat isn't OCD, but when it causes delays, inconveniences others, or consumes excessive time it probably is and should be treated by a specialist, Dr. Steven Brodsky clarifies (...read more)
It can also take the form of hypochondriasis (health or medical worries), hoarding, unwanted sexual doubts (doubts you're straight, gay, lesbian), relationship doubts (whether you or your partner love each other, or might cheat), guilt, over-responsibility, scrupulosity, or religious worries, disturbing harming thoughts, body dysmorphic, reviewing, fear of being a sexual predator or pedophile (or being a victim, or other sexual taboos), checking one's own bodily functions (blinking, swallowing, breathing, pulse, etc.), and many more. Below are descriptions of just some of the many common types of OCD:
Hypochondriasis:
An exaggerated obsessive worry about one's health (in the absence of medical evidence), endless internet researching medical information, visits to doctors, odd diets, or reassurance seeking from others. Ordinary physiological sensations can be misinterpreted as cancer, heart disease, HIV, etc. (Read more...)
Read more about Hypochondriasis.
Hoarding:
Collecting, buying, or failure to discard possessions. Sometimes hoarding OCD can also take the form of never using items for fear of "damaging" them. Frequently, hoarders won't allow people into their home out of embarrassment, or will prevent others from moving or tampering with their belongings for fear they won't be able to find important things in case they need them. (Read more...)
Read more for Hoarding.
HOCD (Orientation Doubts):
Unwanted gay or lesbian thoughts or abrupt doubts about one's sexual identity. HOCD sufferers often check whether they get aroused by a variety of same-sex situations, in effect testing their sexual orientation. (Read more...)
Read more for HOCD.
POCD & Taboo Sexual Thoughts:
Sexual OCD sufferers experience upsetting obsessions about inappropriate sexual relationships, such as family members, children, married people, animals, or rape. They have intrusive thoughts they'll become a pedophile, rapist, molester, adulterer, promiscuous, pornographer, paraphiliac, bestial, fetishistic, or deviant. Sexual OCD sufferers constantly test their arousal level to these targets hoping to reassure themselves that they're normal. (Read more...)
Read more for POCD.
Relationship OCD (ROCD):
Doubting whether you love your mate or they love you, or whether either of you could be unfaithful. Before you break up, find out if it might be ROCD. (Read more...) Email a question to Dr. Brodsky for a free consult. Make an appointment online or call 212-726-2390. Teletherapy is available nationwide in 36 states for OCD from Hartford, Connecticut to Louisville, Kentucky and in-person sessions are in New York and northern New Jersey.
Read more for ROCD.
Scrupulosity (Guilt OCD):
Exaggerated sense of guilt, over-responsibility, or dread of punishment, harsh disapproval, or retaliation. Sufferers fear they've either offended someone, question if they did something illegal, immoral, or sinful. They might compulsively apologize, confess minor infractions, seek amends and reassurance, over-justify their actions and opinions, review past events for violations, or engage in excessively long or repetitive religious rituals beyond what is normative in their faith community. (Read more...)
Read more for Scrupulosity OCD.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD):
Distorted negative body image, compulsively checking, covering up, or over-grooming a particular part of their body or appearance (hair, fat, stomach, chest, skin, teeth, birth marks, face shape, eyebrows, nose, etc.). BDD can sometimes also be an imaginary body odor. BDD is often misdiagnosed as an eating disorder like anorexia. They might look the same, but their causes and treatments are very different. (Read more...)
Read more for Body Dysmorphia (BDD).
Violent Obsessions (Harm-OCD):
You worry you'll harm others, often loved ones, or that you or they will be harmed by crime or accident. They put sharp objects away, might look back to check if they bumped or ran over someone, review their actions, or even check TV news to see if they committed a violent crime. (Read more...)

Read more on Harm OCD
Pure O (Pure Obsessional OCD):
"Pure O" (purely obsessional) OCD is really a misnomer and an often used but obsolete term. With Pure O, the OCD sufferer thinks they have only obsessions and not compulsions. In reality, so called Pure O sufferers have internal mental compulsions, usually self-reassurance, rather than behavioral compulsions. Pure O sufferers try to talk themselves out of their worry, answer an unanswerable question, or ask others to reassure them.

Pure-O OCD has thought compulsions, not observable behaviors.
Contamination:
Fear that something has become contaminated (by germs, dirt, asbestos, chemicals, or contaminated just by an evil superstitious thought) and that either the person or loved ones will be contaminated in turn. Sometimes contamination OCD can also take the form of feeling disgusted by contact, without any fear or danger associated. Often people feel compelled to clean, wash, launder, throw out, or isolate "contaminated" objects.

Contamination OCD takes many forms: fear of germs, toxic chemicals, spiritual contamination, or just a consuming feeling of disgust.
Email a question to Dr. Brodsky now, or arrange a free consultation within 24 hours. If you feel ready to start you can make an appointment online or just call 212-726-2390. Virtual teletherapy is available nationwide in 36 states for OCD from Albany, New York to Salt Lake City, Utah and in-person sessions are available in Manhattan and Bergen County, New Jersey.
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