Obsessions, Compulsions & Everything in Between: A Look at Different Types of OCD
If you've ever felt trapped by unwanted thoughts or stuck in a loop of repetitive behaviors you can't quite explain, you're not alone. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) often hides in plain sight—especially in high-achieving women who appear to be holding it all together. But beneath the surface, many are quietly managing obsessions and compulsions that feel exhausting and overwhelming.
OCD is more than just being neat or worrying too much. It’s a related disorder that involves a cycle of intrusive thoughts and compulsive behavior, often misunderstood by even those experiencing it. Learning about the different types of OCD can be a powerful first step toward healing.
In this article, we’ll gently explore:
What are the different types of OCD
Can you have multiple types of OCD?
What OCD symptoms to look for
How OCD is diagnosed
The types of OCD treatments that work
If any of this resonates, I hope you’ll keep reading—and consider that you’re not broken. There’s real help for OCD, and you deserve it.
What Is OCD, Really? Understanding Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition that affects people of all ages and backgrounds. It’s often misunderstood as simply being “overly neat” or “a perfectionist,” but OCD goes much deeper. At its core, OCD is characterized by a distressing cycle of obsessions (unwanted, intrusive thoughts) and compulsions (repetitive behaviors or mental acts).
People with OCD may feel trapped in these cycles—engaging in rituals or avoidance behaviors in an effort to reduce anxiety or prevent something bad from happening. But these temporary reliefs only reinforce the cycle, making it hard to break free without support.
Many people with OCD suffer silently—especially high-achieving women—because their thoughts and behaviors don’t “look” like the stereotypical symptoms. But OCD may affect people in subtle, exhausting ways that aren’t always visible.
What Are Different Types of OCD?
There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In fact, OCD can take many forms—some more familiar than others, and some that are deeply internal and harder to spot. Many individuals with OCD experience a unique mix of obsessions or compulsions, which may shift over time.
Common Types of OCD
Here are some of the common types of OCD (also called OCD subtypes) you might recognize—or relate to more than you expected:
Contamination OCD – Fear of germs, illness, or environmental toxins; often leads to excessive cleaning or avoidance.
Checking OCD – Repetitive checking of locks, appliances, or even one's memory, to prevent imagined danger or mistakes.
Harm OCD – Intrusive thoughts about hurting someone (or oneself), even though the person would never act on them.
Relationship OCD (ROCD) – Constant doubt or questioning in relationships; distressing worry that something is “wrong.”
Scrupulosity – Obsessions around morality, religion, or being a “bad person”; compulsions may involve confessing or seeking reassurance.
Pure-O / Obsessional OCD – Distressing mental rumination without obvious outward compulsions; examples include pedophilia OCD or homosexual OCD, which are deeply stigmatized but very real forms of OCD.
Perfectionism and Symmetry OCD – A need for exactness, balance, symmetry and order, or things to feel “just right.”
These types of obsessive-compulsive disorder may feel isolating, especially if you seem “put together” on the outside. But if you’re caught in the exhausting cycle of obsessions and compulsions, you’re not alone—and it’s okay to seek support from a health professional.
Additional reading: You might also want to learn Why Can’t I Just Relax? The Truth About Anxiety and Why Unwinding Feels Impossible.
Symptoms of OCD: What to Look For
OCD can look very different from one person to the next. While some OCD symptoms are outward and visible—like repeated hand washing or checking—others are entirely internal, involving distressing thoughts or silent rituals. This is especially true for women who overfunction, mask their anxiety, and push through because others rely on them.
Many people with obsessive-compulsive disorder experience:
Obsessive thoughts like “What if I hurt someone?” or “What if something bad will happen if I don’t do this right?”
Mental rumination—getting stuck in repetitive thought loops, especially about past mistakes or future worries.
Compulsions around guilt, morality, or being “a good enough mom/partner/friend.”
A need for perfectionism or control in daily tasks—especially caregiving.
Avoidance behaviors—skipping situations that might trigger fears or doubt.
Excessive seeking of reassurance or checking for “certainty.”
It’s important to understand that OCD involves a pattern of obsessions and compulsions around specific themes—whether it’s fear of harm, contamination, or failure. These themes of OCD are called OCD subtypes, and while each type of OCD may look different, the emotional toll is very real.
Can You Have Multiple Types of OCD?
If you’re someone with OCD or wondering if you might be, please know—effective treatment is absolutely available. While OCD can feel isolating and overwhelming, it’s also one of the most treatable obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, especially when using evidence-based approaches.
Here are the most widely recommended treatment options for obsessive-compulsive disorder, regardless of your OCD subtype:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): A foundational approach that helps you identify and shift unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors.
Mindfulness and Somatic Therapies: These are especially powerful for addressing the emotional layers linked to OCD, such as unresolved trauma or chronic stress—an area I focus on in my work using Brainspotting, parts work, and somatic awareness.
Medication: SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) are often used to reduce the intensity of OCD obsessions and compulsions.
Treatment can help you feel more grounded, safe, and emotionally free—even if your OCD often fixates on thoughts that feel too shameful or irrational to share. Many subtypes of OCD, including OCD compulsion patterns, respond well to therapy that’s compassionate and attuned to your unique life context.
What Type of OCD Do I Have?
If you’ve been wondering, “Do I have OCD?” or “Which type of OCD do I have?”—you’re not alone. It’s common to feel confused or overwhelmed when trying to make sense of intrusive thoughts and behaviors that don’t seem to match the more visible signs of OCD.
The truth is, the main types of OCD—like contamination fears, checking behaviors, or moral scrupulosity—are simply guideposts. Each OCD subtype may show up differently from person to person. While one person with OCD may fear harming a loved one, another might get stuck in mental loops about making the "wrong" choice at work or in a relationship.
Here’s what I like to remind clients:
You can experience more than one type of OCD at the same time.
Some aspects of OCD are loud and visible; others are silent but equally disruptive.
Labels can help, but they’re not the whole story.
A true OCD diagnosis involves understanding your unique symptoms in the broader context of OCD, not fitting into a single box.
Working with a trained therapist who understands the nuances related to OCD can help you sort through what’s really going on and begin meaningful healing.
Additional reading: You should also check out Why Now? The Power of Doing the Work in Your 40s.
For the Women Who Hold It All Together (Until They Can’t) - I Am Here to Help
If you’ve been quietly managing intrusive thoughts, second-guessing yourself all day long, or feeling off without quite knowing why, there’s nothing wrong with you. You don’t need a textbook diagnosis or a major crisis to reach out for support. And you definitely don’t need to prove you’re “struggling enough” to deserve help.
If you’re the one who always keeps it together—the go-to, the steady one—it can feel unfamiliar (even uncomfortable) to pause and focus on yourself. But your emotional well-being matters too. Therapies like Brainspotting, EMDR, and parts work can help untangle the patterns beneath the surface—so you can finally exhale.
It’s okay to want more ease. More clarity. More room to be who you are without constantly managing everything. That kind of support is possible—and you're allowed to have it.Get in touch today!