The intensity of OCD Compulsions are Proportional to the Core Fear

I feel like the intensity of the OCD compulsions are directly proportional to the core fear. It's the "what if" boogeyman of it. OCD says "What if you don't do this compulsion, where would that leave you? In a place of uncertainty!! Ahhhh!! That's not good right? This particular theme MUST be dealt with! Just do this quick compulsion, it's way easier. Plus, if you don't do this compulsion RIGHT NOW, you're gonna feel like crap for the rest of the day." Humans natural behavior is to take the path of least resistance. That's what OCD is. Keep doing those compulsions and get that short-term relief. This is why I don't know if I agree that "the theme doesn't matter, it's all just OCD." Yeah that may be true that OCD is the main driver behind it all, but I think there definitely is something to each specific theme. If someone feels like a theme is significant - or if it actually is a serious open question - I think that's gonna drive the OCD much more to feel like you NEED / MUST "deal" with that particular thing. **trigger warning** For example, there's a difference between some of these OCD themes that are 99% devoid of any real-world threat i.e. - "If I don't wash my hands 10x right now my entire family is gonna get AIDS," etc." -- 99% unrealistic. vs. "Did I run over my neighbor's dog on my way home?" or something. I'd say that's an open-question that probably SHOULD be ruminated on / addressed / made certain. You can't just go "oh well OCD therapy said I shouldn't care about certainty" for EVERYTHING. I feel like EACH THEME should have a specialized type of therapy plan and advice shouldn't be one-size fits all. And that each theme's level of intensity is going be directly proportional to the level of what the core fear is and how plausible that core fear would be for anyone without OCD.

Annohnnamuss

Date posted: 19h

I agree with you. In my experience, the more that seems to be “at stake” by *not* doing a compulsion, the more intense those compulsions become. My examples: Dishwasher gets loaded according to my rules. If not, I’m compelled to fix it and find other ways I can regain a sense of symmetry and evenness. If I don’t, I have the same level of distress - not increasing. These are the only compulsions for this theme of mine. If something starts to tug at my morals and values, then my compulsions become far more intense. I’m currently struggling with feeling compelled to take many different actions due to a friend potentially mistreating their dog. Because a life is potentially being affected, these compulsions feel acceptable and like I SHOULD act on them - not sit with uncertainty. I’m bringing this to session with me on Monday because I’m not sure how to toe that line. It’s very nice to know I’m not the only one.

Dude01

Date posted: 14h

Yep 100%. Just echoing a lot of the stuff you said, I think the closer it is to your morals, values, + identity, the more intense it is to "deal" with whatever the thing is and to try to get "certainty." Not every theme is created equal. Some are easier to let go like "ok I don't really NEED to deal with it" and the feelings aren't as bad/intense if you don't. I think mine is mostly Pure O but I have different themes I ruminate/do mental compulsions on. I'll literally like think that too - I'll be like "ok this is something I'm OCD-ing on but it's just a 'whatever' it's not a huge deal if I don't 'solve this' right now. Other themes not so much. That's awesome you're going to therapy, hope it goes well. If you want to give an update after it in this post that'd be cool too if you want.

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