What is an obsession?
Obsessions are part of the disorder known as OCD or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. People with OCD have obsessions that are intrusive, unwanted, and bring the person experiencing them no pleasure. In fact, having OCD can be quite stressful and for some, debilitating.
The Three Forms of OCD
Obsessions arise in one of three forms: thoughts (“maybe I have cancer”), images (of kissing a relative), and urges (an urge to check). These thoughts take root because OCD slowly sinks in, creating more and more doubt, uncertainty, and anxiety.
Some people have just one type of obsession while others have all three types of obsessions (or some combination of them). Some people’s obsessions are around one particular subject and it’s the same subject their entire life. Then other people have OCD that is like Baskin Robinns – 31 flavors and the special of the day is always changing!
Let’s look at some common and some uncommon obsessions below (Adapted from Goodman, W.K., Price, L.H., S.A et al.: “The Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale.” Arch Gen Psychiatry 46:1006-1011, 1989.)
Contamination Obsessions
- Bodily fluids
- Environmental contaminants
- Cleaners
- Animals or bugs
- Sticky substances or residues
- Getting ill
- Fear of getting others ill
Harm Obsessions
- Harming yourself
- Harming others
- Intrusive violent images
- Fear that you will harm others by not being careful enough
- Fear that you will be responsible for something bad happening
Sexual Obsessions
- Forbidden or perverse sexual thoughts, images or impulses
- Content about children or incest
- Doubt about sexual orientation
Religious (Scrupulous) Obsessions
- Fear of engaging in sacrilege or blasphemy
- Concern with being overly moral
Other Obsessions
- Blurting out an obscenity or insult
- Fear that you will steal something
- A need for things to be exact
- A need to know
- Fear of saying certain things or not the “just right” thing
- Intrusive non-violent images
- Intrusive sounds, words or music
- Lucky/unlucky numbers
This is not in any way a complete list of all types of obsessions, there are many more. If you have obsessions in one of these areas or in another area and are ready for the next step, please contact us today or schedule with one of our therapists by clicking here.
Christen Sistrunk, MA LPC specializes in working with adolescents, adults, and seniors with a range of anxiety and depression related complaints in Houston, Texas. She is a founder of the Houston Center for Valued Living and is Co-President of OCD Texas, a non-profit support and advocacy group for people with OCD and related disorders. She is available to see clients in office and through web/teletherapy on Mondays, Wednesdys, and Fridays. Contact Christen to schedule an appointment.