#not all of these are strictly like ocd either some of it is just paranoia

[ocdrantings]

hi, i just wanted to ask you for consultation (this will probably be in more parts). i think i might have ocd. i chech if i’ve turned off the lights, closed the fridge etc before i leave the house a few times. i have recently started to clean my eyes, mouth and nose frequently because i think i might get some germs. sometimes i squint away at some touches and rub that place(example: someone touched my hand) so i don’t have the lingering feeling the whole day. 1/3

i also started getting intrusive thoughts, harmful and sexual ones. a few days ago, a friend repiled to me but used thx even tho they never type like that and i became paranoid, unfollowed, blocked, and changed my password because of suspition, only to realise later how stupid that was. i read about ocd on google and here on tumblr and realised some syptoms. but what confuses me is that these things don’t really affect my daily life because they’re not that distracting. can that be ocd? 2/3 

because of that i’m not sure if it’s just overthinking/paranoia. i know i would have to see a proffesional to confirm it, but i’m 15 and i don’t want to see anyone, at least not yet, just because it doesn’t affect my routine much. what is your opinion on this? thanks in advance :D 3/3

Hi! 

As you probably know I can’t diagnose you (I don’t think that was the intention of your ask either but I just want to put a disclaimer), but I will answer as well as I can. 

Yes, strictly speaking your daily life has to be impacted for it to be clinical ocd. This is a guideline I found on ocduk:

 “Diagnostic Guidelines For a definite diagnosis, obsessional symptoms or compulsive acts, or both, must be present on most days for at least 2 successive weeks and be a source of distress or interference with activities.“ 

This I don’t know if it applies to you, but I believe that there is no definite way the ocd has to manifest itself. It is not necessary to be stuck with compulsions for hours for it to be ocd. However it does sound like it affects you, when you write about having to clean your eyes etc, and squinting to prevent an uncomfortable feeling as well as the intrusive thoughts. 

I, personally, also get very anxious when someone uses words they don’t usually or act in a way they don’t usually. I don’t know if this has to do with my ocd, but I suspect it does or with my anxiety in general (I never talked about this with my therapist so I don’t know for sure.) This also seems to affect you since you reacted so strongly to it. And even if it is not ocd it can be good to keep an eye on. 

Based on what you have described I think it is possible it is ocd, but it could of course be other things too. 

As far as seeing a therapist or psychologist go it is completely up to you and if you don’t feel like you need one or want one that is okay. I would advice you though to be observant if any symptoms get worse so they don’t escalate (this happened to me, it doesn’t have to happen but it is good to be aware of). 

There are plenty of tests and texts that you can look at yourself if you want to look into the alternatives further. 

I hope this was helpful at all!