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What types of OCD are Pure O?
Pure O stands for ‘purely obsessional’. People sometimes use this phrase to describe a type of OCD where they experience distressing intrusive thoughts but there are no external signs of compulsions (for example checking or washing). The name is slightly misleading as it suggests that there are no compulsions at all. The five main subtypes of OCD are: Contamination obsessions / cleaning compulsions. Harm obsessions / cleaning compulsions. Obsessions without compulsions. Just Right obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an OCD subtype that is characterized by ongoing intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors around organization, perfection and making things feel “just right.” People with Just Right OCD experience frequent intrusive thoughts around organization and symmetry, and they … Because of the hidden nature of the disorder, Pure OCD is extremely distressing and challenging to treat. Many sufferers go years without seeking help or opening up to loved ones.
Is there a mild form of OCD?
OCD , usually considered a lifelong disorder, can have mild to moderate symptoms or be so severe and time-consuming that it becomes disabling. Obsessive-compulsive symptoms generally wax and wane over time. Because of this, many individuals diagnosed with OCD may suspect that their OCD comes and goes or even goes away—only to return. However, as mentioned above, obsessive-compulsive traits never truly go away. Instead, they require ongoing management. Checking OCD is one of the most commonly known subtypes of OCD. Even though pure OCD compulsions are often not noticeable from an outside perspective, they are best treated like all types of OCD compulsions — with exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy. ERP is considered the gold standard for OCD treatment; 80% of people with OCD experience positive results from therapy. List-making would be considered a compulsion because the list reassures the person with OCD and helps them to feel temporarily better, thus they never learn that they do not need the list to remember things.
What are common pure OCD themes?
OCD often fixates around one or more themes. Some of the most common themes are contamination, harm, checking and perfection. People with OCD can have more than one subtype, and their subtype can change over time. OCD can manifest in four main ways: contamination/washing, doubt/checking, ordering/arranging, and unacceptable/taboo thoughts. Obsessions and compulsions that revolve about contamination and germs are the most common type of OCD, but OCD can cover a wide range of topics. The most common comorbid disorder in OCD is anxiety disorders with a prevalence of 75.8%, mood disorders with 63.3% specifically major depression disorder (MDD) with 40.7%, impulse control disorders 55.9%; and substance use disorders (SUDs) 38.6 % [7]. Primarily obsessional OCD has been called one of the most distressing and challenging forms of OCD. People with this form of OCD have distressing and unwanted thoughts pop into [their] head frequently, and the thoughts typically center on a fear that you may do something totally uncharacteristic of yourself, … Treatment for OCD, including pure O, often involves the use of medication in combination with psychotherapy, which can include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), support groups, and psychological education.
Can you have all subtypes of OCD?
You can absolutely have two or more different types of OCD. Some people only have one subtype, but it is definitely common for people to have more than one. Over time, the subtypes may change or stay the same. Magical thinking within OCD consists of unreasonable and irrational thought patterns that are characterized by connecting actions and events that have no relation whatsoever. Whilst recovery can be difficult to achieve due to a lack of access to effective therapy, the fact is with the right support and treatment some people can and do completely recover from OCD, without relapse, recovery is possible. Total severity scores are usually assumed to indicate the following levels of OCD: subclinical (0–7), mild (8–15), moderate (16–23), severe (24–31) and extremely severe (32–40).
What triggers pure OCD?
Thus, what ignites the symptoms of Pure-O is not the experience of intrusive thoughts but actually one’s reaction to them. The more one dislikes experiencing the intrusive thoughts and tries to repress, control, or fight the thoughts, the greater the frequency of intrusive thoughts one will experience. In the cases of mild OCD, the intrusive thoughts are not time-consuming in a significant way (at least, at first glance). Or maybe, even though the person is troubled by the thoughts, they do not notably impair his or her daily functioning. Somatic OCD is a form of OCD that causes intrusive thoughts are focused on autonomic, or non-conscious body processes and functions, like breathing, blinking, or physical sensations. Just like other types of OCD, people with pure O have obsessions and compulsions. But the difference is, most (or all) of the compulsions are mental. This means the compulsions are invisible to other people. People with pure O usually try to neutralize the obsessions using their own mind, or inner logic.