Types of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Contamination OCD centers on the fear of germs, dirt, illness, or any substance seen as unsafe. People with this form of OCD often react with intense distress when they face surfaces, places, or objects they believe hold contamination risk. This fear does not fade once the situation passes. 

Compulsions in contamination OCD often include:

• Excessive handwashing
• Repeated cleaning routines
• Strict avoidance of locations or situations viewed as unsafe

Over time, these patterns take large portions of the day and limit your ability to participate in normal routines. 

Harm OCD involves intrusive thoughts about causing harm to oneself or another person. These thoughts may appear without warning and may involve violent, graphic, or frightening images. 

People with this form of OCD often fear that the thought itself signals danger. They fear that the thought proves they might lose control or act out the image in their mind. The distress that follows creates a strong internal battle between fear and the desire to protect loved ones and oneself.

Checking OCD centers on the fear that a mistake or oversight will cause harm. People with this form of OCD may fixate on the idea that an unlocked door, an active stove burner, or a misplaced object could trigger a disaster. The fear grows until you perform a check meant to confirm safety.

Symmetry OCD revolves around the need for perfect balance, order, or alignment. People with this form of OCD feel intense discomfort when objects appear uneven or out of place. The discomfort may also show up as a physical sense that one side of the body must match the other. Adjusting objects, repeating actions, or moving in a certain pattern are common ways of coping.

Relationship OCD involves intrusive doubts about one’s partner or the relationship as a whole. People with this form of OCD may question their own feelings, fear a lack of true connection, or worry that they chose the wrong partner. These doubts do not resemble normal relationship questions. They repeat in a rigid, distressing pattern that dominates attention and triggers compulsions.

Common compulsions include:

• Reassurance seeking
• Mental comparisons to other couples
• Constant review of past conversations or moments

Each compulsion aims to confirm the stability of the relationship, yet each one strengthens the cycle. Over time, this pattern strains the relationship and increases distress

Pure Obsessional OCD involves intrusive thoughts that occur without obvious outward compulsions. You may experience disturbing thoughts, unsettling images, or unwanted urges that trigger fear and shame. Instead of visible compulsions, you may turn to mental rituals, such as mental review loops, silent repetition of phrases, or private reassurance routines.