OCD is a psychological disorder that causes repetitive behaviors. There are five main types, including cleaning, hoarding, and repetitive checking. Checking is the most common, followed by cleaning. Hoarders fear throwing anything away, while compulsive orderers cannot relax unless possessions are in order. Repetition of thoughts or phrases is the most unusual type.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a psychological disorder that causes repetitive behaviors. Sufferers believe that these repetitions will free them from disturbing thoughts or feelings. There are believed to be five main types of OCD. Cleaning, hoarding, and repetitive checking are the three most common behaviors. Also typical are the ordering of objects and repeated thought processes or sentences.
Of all the types of OCD, the most common is generally the checking and re-checking of items or actions. This accounts for nearly 80% of all OCD diagnoses. People suffering from this type of OCD believe that they have failed to complete a task and that this failure will lead to a catastrophic event. They can go back several times to check if they locked the door or turned off an appliance. How often this needs to be done varies from person to person, but in most cases it interferes with a normal lifestyle.
Obsessive cleaning usually comes from an unnatural fear of germs. Sufferers believe that contamination is everywhere and that only by cleaning and cleaning can they create a safe environment. They typically avoid places and circumstances where they may not be able to supervise cleanliness, such as public restrooms, restaurants, and sometimes even the homes of family and friends. In some ways, this could be seen as the most debilitating of all types of OCD because it can be difficult for a normal person to stay in one place all the time.
Hoarders are simply afraid to throw anything away. They tend to cling to everything they receive, regardless of its meaning. They often have an irrational fear that their lives may depend on the possessions they have at hand. Their lifestyles and living environments are generally very chaotic.
People who suffer from compulsive ordering are unable to rest or relax unless certain possessions are in order. In extreme cases, this may apply to all of their possessions, but often they will focus on particular things such as books, magazines or food items. Their ordering process can be as simple as alphabetizing or arranging items by size, but it can also be a system so complex it takes hours to complete.
Of all the types of OCD, repetition of thoughts or phrases is generally considered to be the most unusual. These people are plagued by feelings of guilt associated with thoughts they cannot control. These thoughts usually involve hurting others or yourself. Sometimes the thoughts are of a sexual nature which the person deems perverse. They believe that repeating sentences, either aloud or silently, can keep unwanted thoughts at bay.
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