Can anyone tell me if this is OCD or not: sometimes I get obsessed with like a “plan” or an “idea” and just can’t stop thinking about it. It can be anything totally random. Yesterday at the store I saw a loaf of tiny bread. I really wanna get it and other stuff to make tiny little sandwiches. I literally couldn’t sleep last night because all I can think about is making these tiny sandwiches??? I had to get up and tell my partner about it. Still thinking about it today. Told everyone at work today. There is some anxiety around it because I feel like I NEED to go through with the plan or the idea or whatever, but it’s not fear based at all. Is that part of my OCD or is it something else?

Yes this is ocd. It's called pure o which is obsessional thinking. The rituals you do may not be outward but in your thinking such as trying to figure it out over and over and other types of ruminations. Best to try not to stop the thoughts but let them pass through your head or distract yourself. Research it and good luck to you.

well that sounds like a compulsion without the obsession, i’m a bit confused too

I get this too. I’m not sure? Maybe it’s a coping mechanism or something?

Are you not that strongly bothered by other obsessions at the moment? Because sometimes when you are bored your OCD can tag onto pointless things? Also your mind is used to being in an anxious state due to ocd so it is just looking for something to play on and make you anxious, even though it doesn’t make you anxious in reality. Sometimes it can just be that you are anxious about being anxious? Sorry if that’s confusing lol. But I’ve noticed with my OCD worrying about worrying tends to actually become a little theme in itself :)

I’m diagnosed with OCD and I think that I would fall into the category of Pure O with some outward compulsions related to contamination OCD and just right OCD, along with some reassurance seeking and like buying things. My obsessions pretty much cover every theme in the book and change constantly. I don’t really understand these obsessions that aren’t really based out of fear but lead to anxiety if I don’t act on them as a compulsion? Does that make any sense? Like earlier this year I couldn’t focus at all in school because I couldn’t stop looking at puppies on petfinder??? What’s the fear? Why can’t I stop thinking about stupid things like puppies and tiny sandwiches? Is it maybe a type of compulsion to try to make myself happy or distract myself or make my life better?? I feel like I’ll never get better because my OCD is all over the place.

Yeah, I totally understand that, and I can kind of relate. Although it isn’t associated with a typical OCD-related fear (something bad might happen if I don’t do X), it could be considered FOMO: Fear of Missing Out. Although that is not a technical medical term, I think its a reasonable explanation. Like for example, if my husband and I are out shopping and he touches something specific and comments on how it feels, then I HAVE to touch it because I want to know what it feels like and don’t want to miss out on that experience. Also, when it comes to a variety pack of cookies or candies or whatever, I am obsessed with wanting to try all of them, and if we are in a social situation where that would not be acceptable, then I get anxiety about which one I should pick, which is a combination of FOMO and FOBO: Fear of better options (again, not a technical medical term). I’m afraid that there might be a better option and that I will miss out on experiencing all of those other options if I can only pick one. Many “normal” people can suffer from FOMO and/or FOBO, BUT with people with OCD, it is often much more extreme in a way that hijacks their life: it takes FOREVER to make a decision, and then even after the situation has passed, we can’t stop obsessing about our decision, and if that opportunity is still available once you get to the point that you can’t stand the obsessing and must make it stop, then you give into the compulsion. For example, someone brought a variety box of donuts into work, and they all look so tasty, and if it was socially acceptable, I would take a bite out of each of the flavors, but since it’s not, and it would be inconsiderate to take more than 1 donut, I have to make a decision, which takes ridiculously long, but eventually I pick one, and even if I enjoy it, I can’t stop thinking about what the other flavors will taste like. After a few hours of being tortured by my obsessive thoughts, I go to the break room to see if there are any donuts left, and if there are, then of course I have to try another one, even though I know it isn’t healthy to give into my obsessions or eat a second donut. My OCD manifests in many other ways as well, such as perfectionism, contamination, and sometimes checking and numbers, so I think extreme FOBO and FOMO are likely to be experienced by people with OCD, but I’m not sure if someone who ONLY has EXTREME FOMO or FOBO would be classified as having OCD or not.