Common Fears & OCD Subtypes
OCD subtypes can help people to find community with others who share similar experiences, and they can assist therapists in designing targeted treatment plans, but they don't tell the whole story. If you can't find your subtype, that doesn't mean you don't have OCD—everyone's experience is unique, and many people's OCD symptoms don't fit neatly into any specific theme.
Harm OCD
Harm OCD is a common subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) that causes intrusive unwanted thoughts, images or urges to harm oneself or others. Thoughts of harm should always be taken seriously, which can make symptoms of harm OCD especially frightening. People with harm OCD are not more likely to harm themselves or others than people with other OCD subtypes. However, they may view their intrusive and unwanted thoughts as an indication of a desire to act. This fuels their anxiety and drives them to engage in various compulsions aimed at eliminating this fear (e.g., removing all sharp objects from their kitchen).
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Reviewed by April Kilduff, MA, LCPC
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Reviewed by April Kilduff, MA, LCPC
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Reviewed by April Kilduff, MA, LCPC
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By Jessica Migala
Reviewed by April Kilduff, MA, LCPC
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Reviewed by April Kilduff, MA, LCPC
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Reviewed by April Kilduff, MA, LCPC
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By Grant Stoddard
Reviewed by April Kilduff, MA, LCPC
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By Grant Stoddard
Reviewed by Patrick McGrath, PhD
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By Jessica Migala
Reviewed by April Kilduff, MA, LCPC