Living with Harm OCD feels like there is a threat at every corner, but the threat is you. You might cut yourself. You might kill yourself. you might push someone off a balcony. You might have caused a wreck and you need to turn around to check. You are horrified by these thoughts and would never do them and living with them feels like you are constantly trying to keep yourself safe from yourself.

Contamination OCD feels like walking through a world filled with invisible threats. Everyday tasks — touching a doorknob, shaking hands, or preparing food — can trigger intense fear and anxiety. You might feel a wave of panic that something dangerous has “stuck” to you, followed by an urgent need to wash or clean until you feel clean enough again. Even when logic tells you that you’re safe, the discomfort can feel unbearable until you clean or cleanse yourself.

ROCD feels like never being sure. You might constantly question whether you truly love your partner, whether they’re “the one,” or whether you might accidentally cheat on your partner even though you don’t want to. You may also fixate on your partners flaws, thinking if you found a perfect partner or had a perfect relationship your discomfort would cease. Even in a healthy relationship, your mind might flood you with doubts that demand reassurance. The result? Endless checking, comparing, breaking up and getting back together, and analyzing — yet never feeling at peace.

SO-OCD feels like your brain won’t stop questioning something that should feel natural. You may experience intrusive doubts about your sexual orientation — even if you’ve always felt confident about it before. These thoughts don’t reflect your true identity; they reflect anxiety and the need for absolute certainty. Many people describe feeling disconnected, anxious, and ashamed, even though they don’t actually want to change who they are. Compulsions may look like checking for arousal while looking at people of the same sex or viewing same sex pornography to check for arousal.

POCD is one of the most distressing forms of OCD. It feels like being trapped in a nightmare of guilt and disgust over thoughts you never wanted. You might experience unwanted images or doubts about being attracted to children — which feels completely opposite to your values and identity. People with POCD avoid children out of fear possibly harming or touching them inappropriately even though the thoughts are entirely no aligned with their character and they would never actually follow through with them.

Pure O isn’t really “purely” obsessional — the compulsions just happen in the mind. It feels like being trapped in a loop of analyzing, reviewing, or mentally checking your thoughts to find relief. Even without visible rituals, the mental exhaustion is real and relentless.

Often Pure O looks like having a debate in your mind. Or Googling to find answers and find relief.

Existential OCD feels like falling into an endless spiral of “What ifs.” What if nothing is real? What if life has no meaning? What if I don’t exist at all? These thoughts can feel profound and terrifying, pulling you into an intellectual tug-of-war where no answer feels satisfying.