My OCD doesn't seem to fit the stereotypes. Are there different types of OCD?

Yes, there is different types of obsessive compulsive disorder. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder isn’t just wanting everything to be neat and tidy, as many people say. In reality, it’s having to do things multiple times, having small “rituals”, and a ton more. Even though it’s one of the more overlooked mental illnesses, it is just as mentally challenging as any other mental illness. Nobody is the same, therefore, nobody’s mental illness is the same. Everyone who likes to clean doesn’t have obsessive compulsive disorder, and not everyone with obsessive compulsive disorder likes to clean. I’d recommend speaking to a professional about it if you’re worried.

There are so many types of OCD and many reasons for it!! I also have OCD but I never knew it was OCD because it didn't fit what I expected from the disorder (excessive cleaning and perfectionism) but actually there are so many types! OCD is where you have obsessive thoughts, often leading to compulsive behaviours. Here are a list of the different types: - checking ~ the need to check something due to the obsessive fear of something (eg. preventing damage, fire, leaks, harm) - contamination ~ a fear of being dirty, often with the compulsion of washing, cleaning or avoiding certain things often. The source of this is normally an inanimate object - mental contamination ~ made to feel as if you are dirt by poor treatment causing feelings of internal uncleanliness. The source of this is normally human - hoarding ~ the inability to discard useless or worn out posessions, due to specific worries or fears - ruminations ~ a train of prolongued thinking about a question or theme that is undirected or productive, often philosophical/about morality - intrusive thoughts ~ having repetitive, disturbing and often horrific thoughts that are hard to get rid of, such as causing harm to others. - symmetry and orderliness ~ a need to have everything lined up symmetrically or 'just right' to prevent discomfort Many people can have many of these at oncec so it's totally normal to not fit into the one box of OCD. For example, I believe I fit with contamination, mental contamination, intrusive thoughts and symmetry and orderliness the most even though I do believe I fit them all! I hope this helps

OCD is a very heterogeneous clinical condition, so there are many types of symptoms and different levels of intensity and frequency. The symptoms can be grouped in categories like checking, order/symmetry, washing, intrusive thoughts that are forbidden/taboo. There are also some clinical conditions relatet to OCD but that are not OCD, like hoarding, skin picking, hair pulling, nail biting, body dysmorphic disorder. So OCD and related disorders have different kinds of obsessions and compulsions. You can have just obsessions, just conpulsions or both obsessions and compulsions. you can have symptoms of more than one category. And you can have OCD and simmultaneously other OCD related condition.

Yes, very much so. I have a "non-traditional" form of OCD. I have intrusive, obsessive thoughts of disturbing imagery, mostly of me hurting myself. I feel the need to blink to "fix" how my eyes feel or clear my ears and other bodily compulsions. None of these fit the "standard" OCD traits often talked about. As this website says, categorizing types of OCD is very common, although there is little scientific evidence backing it up: https://www.treatmyocd.com/education/different-types-of-ocd. My OCD would likely fall under the "pure O" OCD and the "just right" OCD, but I have non-traditional manifestations of both. I have frequently wondered if I "actually" have OCD because I do not have the classic traits, but the truth is that OCD is a big umbrella, and there are many forms.

Rather than different types of OCD they can have different focuses. One person could be afraid of contamination while another person could feel they have to hop on their right foot exactly 20 times or something horrible will happen. Every mental illness will look different from person to person. There's no correct way to present OCD or to have OCD. However, you feel is valid and whatever you're going through is valid too. Please don't feel you have to be what movies make OCD to be out as some organization issue, or needing pictures straight. It's so much more than that.

Disorders can manifest differently for every person. The basic premise remains the same. For instance, the obsessive compulsive thoughts and behavior in OCD is always present in some way but how the person responds to these thoughts is different, due to different life experiences. Even if your OCD does not fall into the stereotypical image of OCD, its still valid and normal. Media can portray disorders as dramatic and unnecessarily specific on certain aspects (like people with OCD are always very intelligent) which influence people who actually have the disorder to expect things that might not be true. Its okay to have a somewhat different manifestation of any disorder.

OCD can present in different ways. While there are no official classifications or subtypes of OCD, research suggests people experience OCD symptoms in four main categories: cleaning and contamination. symmetry and ordering. Everyone is different so your OCD could be different from other person's. There are infinite types of OCD, it can impact any thought, on any subject, on any person, on any fear, and frequently fixates on what’s important in a person’s life. There is a common misconception that OCD is merely a little hand washing or checking light switches. Although those are valid OCD compulsions, such perceptions fail to acknowledge the distressing thoughts that occur prior to such behaviours and also fail to highlight the utter devastation that constant compulsions (no matter what they are) can cause.

Yes! Your OCD diagnosis is valid even if it appears different from the stereotypes. If you don't have a diagnosis, it's important that you see a professional before self-diagnosing with OCD or using resources and quizzes on the internet. In general, you don't want to be judging your own lived experiences based on the stereotypes set by the media. Extreme organisation and cleanliness are only one facet of OCD. OCD is a type of anxiety disorder and comprises two parts: obsessions and compulsions. You may have both or just one. You could be facing these in the form of extreme cleaning, hoarding, ordering, repeatedly checking for things that could cause harm, and even obsessions without compulsions (usually in the form of intrusive thoughts that cause great distress). However your OCD (if you have a diagnosis) expresses itself, it is valid. I would also encourage you to learn more about OCD, read some articles, books, and other resources.

Yes there are many different types of obsessive compulsive disorder. So you shouldn't be worried if your type of Obsessive compulsive disorder isn't like the stereotypes. I know that one of the main stereotypes of Obsessive compulsive disorder is that you like to have everything tide. However that wont necessarily be accurate depending on what type of Obsessive Compulsive disorder you have. So there is no need to feel worried, confused or scared. You could always talk to your GP so that you can get a professional diagnosis so you know what type of Obsessive Compulsive disorder you have.

Yes, absolutely. You do not have to perfectly fit everything in a diagnostic list in order to receive a diagnosis (though, it is best to pay a visit to a mental health professional so they can get a better idea of what's going on). The experience of disordered mental health does not exist in a vaccuum. Stereotypically, some people with OCD are extremely neat and organized, but some are extreme hoarders. At the end of the day it's about the thoughts your having, impulsive behaviors attached to them, and what that means for your daily functioning. Best of luck!