My therapist says I have OCD, but I don’t think I have any intrusive thoughts or images. How can that be?

I don’t know - I didn’t think I had any either for a while, but then I realised that maybe I was wrong? I guess just sometimes they don’t seem like intrusive thoughts when they are.

Think of the symptoms that you do have, do you ever think of something and then perform an action?? Maybe you don't notice that it is an intrusive thought or image because you've gotten used to them?? You should discuss this with your therapist x

Thanks. What I do know is that I’ve preferred being clean to dirty ever since I was little. I was the only one of my brothers and sisters that was like that. Then when I was in college and studied science, especially Microbiology, my need to be clean really got strong! Now I wash my hands a lot. It really doesn’t bother me, except that my hands get dry and cracked, but my family say it bothers them.

Only that I’ll catch something serious.

I had ocd since 16. At that time I didn’t know I had OCD because I didn’t have as severe intrusive thoughts or ideas. But I was clearly doing compulsions of washing and checking because I knew stuff were dirty and if I didn’t clean/wash, I’d get sick. I would also shower after every bathroom usage. I had to always take certain stuff with me wherever I went. If I didn’t I felt something bad would happen. My OCD was “manageable”. It frightened me if I didn’t perform my rituals but the intense intrusive thoughts/images didn’t really happen then. Sometimes doing compulsions just because feeling something bad would happen if you do not is OCD too.

Yeah it kind of sounds like OCD but is there any fears if you aren't clean?

Right, that sounds like contamination ocd