What are the common themes in real life ocd stories?

One common theme is cleanliness and fear of germs. People often obsessively wash their hands or clean their surroundings. Another is checking, like checking if the stove is off or the doors are locked.

One common story is about people who have experienced a minor accident. They might keep replaying the event in their minds, constantly worrying if they could have done something to prevent it. For example, if they were in a fender - bender, they obsess over whether they should have braked earlier or checked their mirrors more carefully.

One common theme is excessive cleaning and hygiene, like in the story I mentioned before where the woman washed her hands until they were raw. Another is checking behaviors, such as repeatedly checking if appliances are turned off or doors are locked.

A major theme in gay OCD stories is the fear of not fitting in. In the gay community, there are often certain 'norms' or expectations. Those with OCD may worry about not conforming to these. For example, they may obsess over whether they are participating in the right social events or following the latest trends. Another common theme is the fear of being rejected by potential partners due to their OCD behaviors. They may try to hide their compulsions, which only adds to their stress.

One common theme is the idea of self - punishment. People with self - harm OCD often feel they deserve to be punished for some perceived wrong or impurity, so they harm themselves. For example, if they think a 'bad' thought, they believe they must be punished by self - harm.

I've been on Lexapro for my OCD for about six months now. In the beginning, I was skeptical, but as time passed, I noticed a big difference. My obsessive thoughts about cleanliness and order were much more manageable. I no longer spent hours cleaning every little thing in my house. Lexapro has given me a new sense of freedom and control over my OCD.

One success story is of a person who had severe OCD symptoms like excessive hand - washing. After starting Zoloft, within a few months, they noticed a significant reduction in the urge. They could go about their day without constantly being preoccupied with the need to wash their hands every few minutes. Zoloft helped them regain control over their actions.

One common element is the recognition of the problem. People usually realize that their constant thoughts about the real event are not normal. Another is seeking help, whether it's through therapy or support groups. For example, in many stories, cognitive - behavioral therapy is a key factor in recovery.

There was a person with OCD who always had to check if the doors were locked. Every time they left the house or a room, they would go back and check at least three times. This was really time - consuming and also made them very stressed when they were in a hurry but still felt the need to check.

There was a man with OCD who had an obsession with symmetry. He would spend hours arranging things in his room until they were perfectly symmetrical. If someone moved an item even slightly, he would feel extremely uncomfortable and have to fix it immediately. His OCD greatly affected his daily life and relationships as it made him seem overly controlling about the environment around him. For example, he couldn't focus on having a normal conversation if he noticed something out of place in terms of symmetry.