Common Fears & OCD Subtypes
OCD subtypes can help people to find community with others who share similar experiences, and they can assist therapists in designing targeted treatment plans, but they don't tell the whole story. If you can't find your subtype, that doesn't mean you don't have OCD—everyone's experience is unique, and many people's OCD symptoms don't fit neatly into any specific theme.
Health and Contamination OCD
Health Concern/Contamination OCD is a subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) where a person experiences obsessive thoughts around fears of becoming contaminated, contaminating others, or contracting and spreading a disease. These obsessive thoughts drive people to engage in various compulsions aimed at alleviating their anxieties about contamination (e.g., showering for hours or until they feel clean).
While cleaning habits are far from the only symptoms of OCD, they are central to many people’s experience of OCD. Here's how the condition works.
By Elle Warren
Reviewed by April Kilduff, MA, LCPC
Let’s take a look at what an intense fear of blood can look like, how it can impact people’s lives, and how they can learn to overcome it.
Reviewed by Patrick McGrath, PhD
If you’re wondering why medications trigger such a big fear and want to know if there’s anything that can be done, you're not alone.
By Jenna Demmer
Reviewed by April Kilduff, MA, LCPC
Fear of pooping can include fears of going in public, fear of feces somewhere on your body, or worrying that it will lead to a health issue.
Someone with OCD fear of food poisoning may struggle with obsessions related to whether their food has been contaminated or poisoned.
Reviewed by Patrick McGrath, PhD
If you feel a persistent need to be clean, you might have a type of obsessive-compulsive disorder called contamination OCD. Learn about it and how to get help here.
By Elle Warren
Reviewed by April Kilduff, MA, LCPC
When you’re disturbed by your dreams, the memory of them may affect your waking hours. Here’s how to cope.
By Jessica Migala
Reviewed by April Kilduff, MA, LCPC
If you spend a significant amount of time researching psychosis and schizophrenia, then read on for what to do about your fears.
By Jessica Migala
Reviewed by April Kilduff, MA, LCPC
Several mental conditions can cause episodes of feeling as if you're losing your mind. As a therapist, I've seen most of them—here's what you should know.
Fear of Schizophrenia related OCD involves repetitive, unwanted thoughts or worries about losing your mind or developing Schizophrenia.
Reviewed by Patrick McGrath, PhD