I think the overuse of categories are bad. Ocd is ocd, it just clings to whatever themes are important to the sufferer at the time. Also, when there no “category” (for example, I’m obsessed with STDs and it leading to me being abandoned) it makes me even wonder if it IS ocd because there’s no one else experiencing this, and there’s no category lol

Simbad

Date posted: 5y

I think this also qualifies as looking for reassurance. Finding someone with your theme can be itself worsening your OCD, because you look for reassurance that the thing your having is OCD. Remember there is a difference between getting support and looking for reassurance. I also think STD OCD is not that uncommon, it is similar to contamination OCD. But there are so many themes, so it is probably good to not focus on this too much. Training is way more important than finding someone with exactly your theme. I hope you get better :)

lmj

Date posted: 5y

Good point Simbad

magical-thin...

Date posted: 5y

This is what I get confused about. My OCD just does a lotta random shit and I’m like “was that you OCD or what’s wrong with me” I can’t tell what’s OCD and what’s anxiety, there’s so many themes I go through

uwotm8

Date posted: 5y

I think it’s pretty pointless. I don’t have “STD OCD”, I just have good ol’ OCD which is focused on that thing instead of another thing ?

lmj

Date posted: 5y

Ya this is a good point!! Maybe it’s easy to look for reassurance to see whether anyone has the same exact obsession but as you say it attaches to what is most important to the sufferer

uwotm8

Date posted: 5y

But then how does it even help us? It never even does help when wenfind someone else with the same obsession

Anonymous

Date posted: 5y

@uwotm8 I think it helps to a point of knowing we arent alone or that we are not crazy thinking.

ocdillustrated

Date posted: 5y

The 'people looking for reassurance" problem is a pretty powerful argument against labeling themes

uwotm8

Date posted: 5y

@xOnlyFarmers But then when you DO ask others they say stop seeking reassurance

ocdillustrated

Date posted: 5y

@uwotm8 Yes. As they should. Getting reassurance is a compulsion that makes OCD worse. To be kind to the person (not their OCD) we have to deflect it and encourage them to accept uncertainty

Anonymous

Date posted: 5y

@uwotm8 Eh. Sometimes. But I could ask one person if they feel the same as me and I may be fine for a couple hours but when I'm laying down to sleep..my mind could start racing and then I may to find another person like me and another and another. Maybe I'm wrong. But that's what I've experienced.

uwotm8

Date posted: 5y

@ocdillustrated Yes that’s what I was saying

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