Is it normal to have multiple subtypes of OCD?
Cuz that'd be me. Pure O, just right, checking, hoarding (to name a few)... And it's got me in a thought spiral.
Other people with OCD that I've encountered only seem to have one category of obsession/compulsion, and that makes me doubt the validity of my diagnosis (despite having had it for years). So I need to know--Am I just crazy???
OCD about having OCD, isn't that something...
Hi AlmostEasy. Yes, you can have different types of OCD at the same time. I do as well.
A string of thoughts will be harm, then checking, then mental compulsions all within one "episode" as I call them. They all go together for me. And I'm sure there are more types, but I just remember those right now.
My thoughts are going almost constantly. Only if I make myself break the loop by not doing compulsions, does it ease up a little. And I can't do that a lot of the time, because the thoughts are so strong.
I don't know if you meant different OCD types at the same time (such as mine), or at different, separate times.
But, if you were diagnosed with OCD, then I would say that is accurate.
Subtypes of OCD are not different diagnostic categories. OCD is OCD. Think of it as ice cream that can come in many different flavors. We in the OCD community use the subtypes as a way to describe how our OCD shows up. OCD can attack anything that we value so it’s not unusual to have more than one subtype. Subtypes can also change over time. Using subtypes can be tricky because not everyone’s symptoms match up with the subtypes. The subtypes all share the same OCD cycle. It’s not unusual for someone to doubt that they even have OCD after awhile. It is the doubting disorder after all.
This is exactly what I needed to hear. Thank you!
You’re welcome.
hai AlmostEasy,If you are diagnosed with OCD then its just there. So don't just try to think it's not there. I hope you come into terms with it and do well in your life.
Lots of us have multiple types of OCD! I have obsessive checking, retracing my steps, doing things over and over, hoarding (though I'm trying to tackle that one) and a few more. It's a fluctuating conditions, and you may find that one type of OCD recedes and another type takes its place. I didn't have a problem with constant hand washing for many years, then I developed it. Some other OCD 'woolly woos' (as a friend of mine named them) have disappeared, while others have arisen.
Having different types of OCD is 'normal for OCD', then! So don't add doubt of your diagnosis to your mix!
Thanks for this!
There is also a lot of overlap between subtypes. For instance someone with Checking OCD may check to get that just right feeling or they may check in an attempt to prevent harm or some other reason. So is it Checking OCD, Just Right OCD or Harm OCD? The subtype labels make it easier to talk about OCD but they are not diagnostic labels. In all OCD subtypes, the person has intrusive thoughts, images or urges that they attach meaning to and then they get stuck on them. There is anxiety or a feeling of disgust that the person feels. They do the mental or physical compulsions to relieve those feelings. The key thing with OCD is that the person is looking for 100% certainty which doesn’t exist. So even though the compulsions bring very temporary relief, the uncomfortable feelings will come back because the compulsions teach the brain that they bring relief and the cycle continues. The person believes they can’t handle the anxiety but they can even though it can be very difficult at first. OCD is kept active through doing compulsions. So to starve the OCD dictator, we need to starve it by not doing the compulsions. With the practice of ERP, the anxiety will come down on its own as the person begins to realizes they overestimated the threat of danger big time. We also tend to grossly overestimate the probability of our fear becoming true. X could happen even though it’s very unlikely. If it does happen, we can find a way to cope with it. Accepting uncertainty is essential for long-term recovery. It can be learned but usually not overnight. Acceptance doesn’t mean approval.
Well said!
Hi AlmostEasy, I too have different types of OCD- hard OCD and cleanliness/ arrangement obsession. The sky is the limit for people like us 
I just purchased a book titled "Daring to Challenge OCD" by Joan Davidson, Ph.D. In Chapter 1, "Understanding OCD," she lists many different types of obsessions. The list includes: contamination; responsibility for harm or mistakes; symmetry, order, or completeness; aggressive thoughts; sexual thoughts; moral and religious thoughts; and relationships.
The underlying themes of obsessions include: intolerance of uncertainty; perfectionism or wanting things to be "just right;" inflated sense of responsibility and overestimating threats; interpreting thoughts as overly important and believing it's important to control them; and underestimation of ability to cope with anxiety or discomfort.
She also lists many different kinds of compulsions. The list includes: washing and cleaning; checking; making things "just right; mental rituals; reassurance seeking; and avoidance.
She also describes many things that "Natureloverpeace" and others above refer to about OCD. So, yes, there are many different types of OCD, and you can have several types at once.
I wasn't familiar with the underlying themes. Thanks for sharing!
Is this really OCD?
OCD Doubts
My Biological family is unsupportive
Questioning my therapist
