Having thoughts, images, or impulses pop in your head that you can’t seem to get rid of, i.e. obsessions

The obsessions don’t make sense or you wish you could get rid of them

The obsessions lead to heightened anxiety

You feel the need to engage in a behavior or mental reassurance to get rid of the obsessions or anxiety, i.e. compulsions; you crave certainty

Your anxiety may go down momentarily after engaging in the compulsions but the obsessions come back

Your OCD may jump from one theme to the other

Contamination OCD

Fear of germs, getting sick, making others sick, death

Harm OCD

Causing harm to self or others by sharp objects, anger outbursts, poison, germs, your “bad” thoughts causing harm 

Sexual Orientation OCD

Fear of being gay or lesbian or bisexual, arousal responses to the same sex

Pedophilia OCD

Fear of being attracted to children, fear that you’ve engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior in the past or will do so in the future

Checking OCD

Checking things a certain number of times or until you get the “just right” feeling, checking for safety or security

Magical OCD

Thinking something or saying it out loud will make it more likely to happen, lucky/unlucky numbers, colors, people

Religious OCD

Fear of not believing in God or believing in the devil, fear of being possessed, whether your religion is the true religion

Perfectionistic OCD

Talking, writing, health, ordering and organizing, all or nothing behaviors, procrastination

Touch And Movement OCD

Gesturing or posturing a certain way, special ways of doing things, touching things a certain way

Health OCD

Commonly known as hypochondriasis, fear of getting different illnesses and certainty you have them despite evidence to suggest otherwise, getting tested repeatedly for illnesses

Relationship OCD

Fear that you or your partner may be cheating, doubt about whether you or your partner really love each other