Is my OCD different, & can it be treated?
OCD can manifest in a variety of ways, and it is common for people with OCD to think that their experience of OCD is different to other subtypes that they have heard of, & therefore can not be treated. Thankfully, this is not the case
OCD Obsessions include…
Being bothered by certain sounds, Causing harm by accident, Causing harm to others on purpose, Existential obsessions, Fear of losing important things, Fear of saying the wrong thing, Fear of doing the wrong thing, Fear of thinking the wrong thing, Moral obsessions, Intrusive nonsense sounds, words, music, Intrusive violent images, Harm obsessions, Losing one’s personality or positive qualities, Need to know obsessions, Neutral obsessions, Obsessions about obsessions, Pedophilic obsessions, Racist obsessions, Relationship obsessions, Religious obsessions, Incest obsessions, Sexual obsessions, Sexual orientation obsessions, Gender obsessions, Somatic (body-focused) obsessions, Superstitious obsessions, Magical thinking obsessions
And each obsession comes with thoughts, images, compulsions (both overt & covert), urges, & physical sensations
Please note that Dr. Pointer works with all manifestations of OCD, not just those listed here. And you don’t have to have it all worked out, in terms of knowing your theme(s), before emailing him
Any “what if?” can become an obsession, including very idiosyncratic notions, such as “What if there an evil entity in my peripheral vision?,” “What if I’ve been cursed by fairies?,” “What if my best friend is Superman?,“ “What if I don’t do the job that I think I do?,” “What if I’m drunk, even though I haven’t had any alcohol?”
Some of the most common Pure O OCD related themes are…
Existential OCD
Existential OCD can cover many different ideas, including “What if I’m not real?” “What if the world isn’t real?” “What if I’m alone and no-one else exists? “What if I’m in a dream? “If I do something will there be any consequences or am I in a simulation where nothing matters?” “What if I have imagined my life & achievements?,” & many many more. These thoughts & related experiences can be very unsettling & anxiety-provoking
Harm OCD
Harm OCD & Suicide OCD can be related to “what if” thoughts about harming ourselves and/or others. It is very different to someone actually wanting to hurt themselves or others. It’s the fear of “What if I do hurt myself or someone else, maybe a random person, a partner, or family member? It is very scary because we can end up avoiding situations where we might get angry for fear of what we fear we might do. We avoid people generally. We may avoid certain situations where we fear we may become overcome with an urge to do something dangerous. We avoid anything that could be used as a weapon, such as a knife. When in reality, people with Harm OCD &/or Suicide OCD are the least likely to hurt themselves or others
Important information: If you have harm &/or suicidal thoughts & intentions which align with how you feel, &/or you are actually considering/planning to hurt yourself &/or others, then please seek immediate support from your GP, A&E, or your local NHS crisis team. This is different to OCD “what if” thoughts
Moral OCD
Moral OCD is where we are obsessed with issues related to morality, & our excessive concerns are often focused upon our own moral compass. We ruminate upon questions such as “What if I’m bad?,” “What if what I’ve done is unforgiveable?,” & “Am I letting myself off the hook to easily if I decide to drop thinking about what I’ve done?”
Pedophile-themed OCD (POCD)
POCD can lead us to feel terrible anxiety & shame. We are obsessed with thoughts such as “What if I am attracted to children? “What if I am turned on by my own children? “What if I’m a pedophile,” often accompanied with with images of a sexual nature in relation to these thoughts, & also, sometimes, groinal responses, as well. Again, it is important to note that these thoughts, images, urges, & sensations are the opposite of our values & reality (regardless of how much we might doubt that when we caught up in our OCD)
Relationship OCD (ROCD)
Relationship OCD (ROCD) can really mess with our relationships. We can obsessive over whether we are in love with our partner, if they are in love with us, if we are feeling different about them, if they are feeling different about us, if we find them attractive, if they find us attractive, & so one. It can lead to us leaving relationships because we are so stressed out about thinking about it so much, &/or pushing the other person away with our constant questions
False Memory OCD
False Memory OCD is where we obsess over what is a memory & what is imagined. The thoughts normally circle around “Did I do something bad (even though I have no recollection of doing it)” &/or “Did something bad happen to me & I don’t remember it?” The thoughts are often about imagining that we have done something that is bad, such as been rude, sexist, unkind, or somehow perpetrated a sex &/or otherwise violent crime towards others &/or we imagine that these crimes may have happened to us.
Homosexual OCD (HOCD) / Gay OCD / Sexual Orientation OCD (SO-OCD)
HOCD/ SO-OCD is where we obsess over thoughts about our sexual orientation. This is not in an open, exploratory way, but instead where we are constantly questioning what we know to be true about what & who we find sexually attractive. The more we try to test out how we emotionally & physically respond to men/women/their bodies/sexual images, the more confused we become
Somatic OCD / Sensorimotor OCD)
Somatic OCD (sometimes called Sensorimotor OCD) describes where we become hyper-focused on particular physical sensations to the extent where we feel stuck in the experience & not able to focus on anything else. Thoughts include “I can’t stop being hyperaware of my blinking/swallowing/breathing/etc., my attention is stuck on it.” “I feel trapped by the experience, and it’s ruining my life.” “If I wasn’t so aware of these sensations, my life would be so much better.” “I can’t get away from it, and I feel desperate to break free of it, but I can’t.” “I can’t concentrate on anyone or anything, because these sensations are bugging me the whole time. My life feels ruined”
Please note that Dr. Pointer works with all manifestations of OCD, not just those listed here. And you don’t have to have it all worked out, in terms of knowing your theme(s), before emailing him
“It sounds obvious, but sometimes we need to remember that, regardless of how empathic someone might be, unless they have experienced OCD, it’s not possible for them to really “get it” at an experiential level”
Be expertly guided by an ex-ocd sufferer, who has been where you are now
Dr. Pointer knows that living with OCD can feel like being trapped in an alternate reality; immersed in a nightmare world, with no way out. Where every moment is consumed with the effort of struggling to break free from OCD’s distressing & exhausting grasp; & hope has faded, along with the almost unimaginable prospect of living a life unshackled from OCD. However, there is a way to emerge from the confusion & tyranny. A way back from a life hijacked by OCD. And Dr. Pointer is looking forward to showing you how. It involves a journey that requires careful navigation, patience, & perseverance; but it’s worth it
Dr. Pointer knows how it feels to be liberated from OCD, & wants this for you, too
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