Harm OCD
Harm OCD is a common subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) characterized by intrusive thoughts, images, or urges about harming oneself or others. People with harm OCD are not more likely to cause harm than anyone else, and they may respond to their fears with compulsive avoidance or reassurance-seeking.
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Do you think you might have Harm OCD?
Our therapists are trained to treat every OCD subtype.
If this scenario sounds all too familiar, you might be grappling with a lesser-known aspect of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
By Grant Stoddard
Reviewed by Patrick McGrath, PhD
A strong fear of doing something harmful to a member of an underrepresented group—and the resulting consequences—may be a sign of a deeper problem.
By Jessica Migala
Reviewed by April Kilduff, MA, LCPC
When violent dreams become a pattern, it’s normal to feel concerned. In this article, we’ll explore why violent dreams occur and what you can do to cope.
By Erica Digap Burson
Reviewed by Patrick McGrath, PhD
As an ERP-trained therapist, I have seen this fear come up for many of the people I work with to recover from OCD.
By Melanie Dideriksen, LPC, CAADC
Reviewed by Patrick McGrath, PhD
Do you think you might have Harm OCD?
Our therapists are trained to treat every OCD subtype.
OCD involving fears about faucets often involves fears about harm coming to loved ones or oneself, or damage from leaving the faucet running.
By Melanie Dideriksen, LPC, CAADC
Reviewed by Patrick McGrath, PhD
Fear of leaving the stove on resulting in damage or injury is highly common for people suffering from Responsibility OCD or Harm OCD.
OCD focused on fear of being a bad person involves recurrent, persistent, unwanted and intrusive thoughts or images about being a bad person.
Fear of concussions in OCD involves recurrent, persistent, unwanted, and intrusive thoughts related to head trauma/concussion.
Do you think you might have Harm OCD?
Our therapists are trained to treat every OCD subtype.
Excessive apologizing is common in OCD. Often, people with OCD feel the urge to compulsively apologize when it is not needed.
People with fear of losing control in OCD believe they can and must maintain perfect control of their actions to avoid negative consequences.