What type of OCD do I have?

I haven't dealt with it myself, but that soubds like existential ocd to me. Generally for all types of ocd, something that you need to do is to acknowledge your thoughts, and try and sit with the uncertainty. It can be hard, especially at the start, but it does get easier over time!

Existential and harm, it can cover multiple themes. In my experience, OCD isn’t exclusive at all… it latches onto anything it can, unfortunately. Whatever makes you spiral, that’s all it wants, more power from your fear.

The NOCD website has good articles on each of the subtypes, im not super familiar with existential ocd as i don’t have it, but from the NOCD article it sounds like those are thoughts that come with it. The impending doom could be existential ocd or possibly harm ocd but you’d have to just look at the symptoms of both. But like the other person said, the tactics for erp is the same with any type of ocd! Just not engaging with the thoughts, letting them happen and not trying to solve them or figure them out. It’s really hard but it is the way you stop ocd from having power. If you get a thought like am I real? Trying to reassure yourself or figure out things that prove to you that you are real is like when a bully is bullying you and you react the way they want you to. If you respond with things like “okay🤷🏼‍♀️” or “it’s possible, but not likely” or “this is ocd” things that allow the uncertainty, its like not reacting to a bully, you’re taking the fun out of it and taking away ocd’s power. Something I do sometimes is pretend that the person saying the thoughts is a villain or character I hate from a tv show, it makes it easier to disregard them. Another thing I like to do is I think of my ocd as a man and so I think I’m not going to let a man tell me what to do😂

Hi! My first debilitating experience with OCD (where I also learned I had it!) was existential OCD. It does get better 🩵 A few things that have helped me immensely: - YOGA! Connecting back with my body has really helped my nervous system regulation and lessened these thoughts. I have found that a lot of OCD symptoms /intrusive thoughts can be driven by subconscious anxiety. - the maybe, maybe not method. Especially when the “am I real?” Thought pops up. I reply to my OCD and say “maybe I’m real, maybe I’m not.” — this alone has taken so much power away from my OCD. This can be hard at first while sitting through the discomfort, but it is a serious game changer. - immersing myself in hobbies. Do some things you love. - OCD education!!!! Therapy, YouTube, books, podcasts, NOCD personal stories on the website, etc. Remember you’re not alone!