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.
Relationship OCD
Relationship obsessive-compulsive disorder (R-OCD) is an OCD subtype that is characterized by ongoing intrusive thoughts and compulsive behavior around uncertainty of a relationship. People with R-OCD experience frequent doubting thoughts about one or more relationships (e.g., “Am I truly in love with my partner?”) in spite of little evidence supporting the need for these doubts. The doubting thoughts are often viewed as an indication that the relationship may be disingenuous or “flawed” in some way, which fuels anxiety about the relationship and drives sufferers to engage in various compulsions aimed at gaining certainty about their relationship status (e.g., asking for continual reassurance from a friend).
If you're worried about your own feelings for someone else, it's important to draw the line between obsession and love.
By Elle Warren
Reviewed by April Kilduff, MA, LCPC
Let's untangle some of the reasons that you might be feeling first-date anxiety—as well as the kinds of steps you can take to overcome it.
By Elle Warren
Reviewed by April Kilduff, MA, LCPC
Being vulnerable is important for building relationships, but it’s not always easy to open up. Here’s why that might be, and how to find help.
By Elle Warren
Reviewed by April Kilduff, MA, LCPC
How to know if your feelings are love, lust or even a sign of a mental health issue—from a therapist with expertise.
By Elle Warren
Reviewed by April Kilduff, MA, LCPC
Here’s what your obsessions about your partner’s past could mean, and how to find help.
By Elle Warren
Reviewed by April Kilduff, MA, LCPC
You should absolutely not sneak a peek. It only erodes trust and violates boundaries needed for a healthy relationship to thrive. Read on to learn more.
By Jessica Migala
Reviewed by April Kilduff, MA, LCPC
Feeling sleep around your partner can be a totally normal experience, or mean something more.
By Erica Digap Burson
Reviewed by April Kilduff, MA, LCPC
Rejection hurts, but therapy can help you work through the thoughts you have surrounding it.
By Elle Warren
Reviewed by April Kilduff, MA, LCPC
Exes can be loaded and emotional subjects, and having them pop up in your dreams can evoke a wide range of emotions.
By Erica Digap Burson
Reviewed by April Kilduff, MA, LCPC
Occasional worry or doubt or insecurity in any relationship is normal—but sometimes, questioning your attraction can end up overtaking your life.
By Melanie Dideriksen, LPC, CAADC
Reviewed by Patrick McGrath, PhD