OCD Checking Emails or letters Anxiety
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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder presents itself in many guises, and certainly goes far beyond the common misconception that OCD is merely a little hand washing or checking light switches. Although those are valid OCD compulsions, such perceptions fail to acknowledge the distressing thoughts that occur prior to such behaviours and also fails to highlight the utter devastation that constant compulsions (no matter what they are) can cause.
Although there are infinite forms of OCD, it has been traditionally considered that a person’s OCD will fall into one of these five main categories, with themes often overlapping between categories too.
Checking
Contamination / Mental Contamination
Symmetry and ordering
Ruminations / Intrusive Thoughts
Hoarding
Before sending/posting an email/letter someone with OCD may spend considerable time checking the text, re-reading every line over and over again out of fear of saying something inappropriate or offensive or until it ‘feels’ right. The primary obsessive fear will be that saying something inappropriate may lead to guilt and feelings of disapproval from the recipient.
Although there are infinite forms of OCD, it has been traditionally considered that a person’s OCD will fall into one of these five main categories, with themes often overlapping between categories too.
Checking
Contamination / Mental Contamination
Symmetry and ordering
Ruminations / Intrusive Thoughts
Hoarding
Before sending/posting an email/letter someone with OCD may spend considerable time checking the text, re-reading every line over and over again out of fear of saying something inappropriate or offensive or until it ‘feels’ right. The primary obsessive fear will be that saying something inappropriate may lead to guilt and feelings of disapproval from the recipient.