Beyond Handwashing: Unconventional OCD Compulsions You Might Not Know About

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is often portrayed in mainstream media as an obsession with cleanliness, particularly excessive handwashing. While compulsions related to contamination fears are common, OCD manifests in many other, often unconventional, ways. These lesser-known compulsions can be just as distressing and disruptive to daily life.  

In this blog, we explore some unusual OCD compulsions that go beyond handwashing, helping to shed light on the complexity of this condition. 

Understanding Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: More Than Just Cleanliness 

OCD is a mental health disorder characterized by persistent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) that lead to repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions). While many people associate OCD with excessive hygiene practices, the disorder takes many forms. Individuals with OCD often recognize that their compulsions are irrational but feel powerless to stop them due to overwhelming anxiety. 

Unconventional OCD Compulsions You Might Not Know About 

1. Mental Compulsions: The “Invisible” Rituals 

Not all compulsions involve physical actions. Some people with obsessive-compulsive disorder engage in mental rituals to neutralize intrusive thoughts. These include: 

• Silent Prayers or Mantras: Repeating specific words or prayers in their minds to prevent bad things from happening. 
• Counting and Numerical Patterns: Mentally counting to a certain number or ensuring actions are performed a specific number of times for “balance.” 
• Reassurance Seeking (Internally): Constantly replaying past events to ensure they didn’t offend or harm someone unintentionally. 

Because these compulsions are not outwardly visible, they often go unnoticed, leading individuals to suffer in silence. 

2. Symmetry and Evenness Obsessions 

Some people with obsessive-compulsive disorder have an intense need for balance and symmetry. They may: 

• Adjust Objects Until They Feel “Right” – Rearranging items, like books or furniture, until they achieve a “perfect” alignment. 
• Tapping or Touching in Pairs – They must do the same to maintain balance if they touch something with one hand. 
• Walking in Patterns – Ensuring that each foot steps on an even number of cracks or following a specific pattern when moving. 

This form of OCD is not about aesthetics but about an overwhelming feeling of unease when symmetry is not achieved. 

3. “Just Right” OCD: The Need for Things to Feel Perfect 

This type of obsessive-compulsive disorder revolves around achieving a specific feeling rather than avoiding danger. Examples include: 

• Rewriting or Redoing Tasks Repeatedly – A person may rewrite notes or emails multiple times until they “feel right.” 
• Re-reading Passages Over and Over – Some individuals re-read the same sentence repeatedly to ensure they fully comprehend it. 
• Rearranging Items Until It “Clicks” – This could involve adjusting clothing, furniture, or any object until a sense of relief is achieved. 

4. Relationship OCD (ROCD): The Fear of Not Loving Enough 

Relationship obsessive-compulsive disorder is an obsession with the quality of one’s relationships, leading to compulsions such as: 

• Constantly Questioning Feelings – Individuals may repeatedly ask themselves, “Do I love my partner enough?” 
• Seeking Reassurance from Partners – Repeatedly asking their partner for validation about the relationship. 
• Comparing Relationships – Constantly analyzing their relationship against others to ensure it measures up. 

This form of obsessive-compulsive disorder can place a significant strain on romantic relationships. 

5. Moral Scrupulosity: The Fear of Being a “Bad” Person 

Moral scrupulosity involves an obsession with morality, ethics, and personal integrity. Compulsions include: 

• Excessive Confessing – Constantly apologizing or seeking forgiveness for perceived wrongdoings. 
• Avoiding “Immoral” Thoughts – Trying to suppress or neutralize intrusive thoughts they consider unethical. 
• Overanalyzing Conversations – Replaying interactions to ensure they didn’t say anything offensive or dishonest. 

This form of OCD can cause immense distress as individuals worry, they are not “good” enough or have unintentionally harmed others. 

6. Sensorimotor Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Hyperawareness of Bodily Functions 

Sensorimotor OCD involves an obsessive focus on automatic bodily functions, such as: 

• Breathing Awareness – Constantly monitoring their own breathing and fearing they will forget how to breathe naturally. 
• Swallowing Awareness – Becoming overly conscious of swallowing, leading to difficulty eating or drinking. 
• Blinking Obsession – Worrying about blinking too much or too little, making it difficult to focus on other tasks. 

Unlike typical obsessive-compulsive disorder compulsions, these are often difficult to “complete,” leading to persistent distress. 

7. Harm Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Fear of Losing Control 

People with Harm OCD experience intrusive thoughts about causing harm to themselves or others, even though they have no intention of doing so. Compulsions include: 

• Avoiding Sharp Objects – Refusing to use knives or scissors out of fear they might lose control and hurt someone. 
• Seeking Constant Reassurance – Asking others repeatedly, “Do you think I would ever hurt someone?” 
• Checking Behavior – Frequently checking their own reactions to violent news or thoughts to confirm they are not dangerous. 

It’s important to note that individuals with harm OCD are not dangerous; rather, they are deeply distressed by their own thoughts. 

8. Magical Thinking: Superstitious Compulsions 

Magical thinking obsessive obsessive-compulsive disorder is the belief that one’s thoughts or actions can influence unrelated events. Examples include: 

• Avoiding Certain Words or Numbers – Believing that saying or thinking a “bad” word will cause something terrible to happen. 
• Creating Rituals for Protection – Performing specific actions (e.g., knocking on wood a set number of times) to prevent harm. 
• Believing Thoughts Can Manifest Events – Feeling responsible for negative events simply because they imagined them. 

Why Awareness Matters 

Because unconventional OCD compulsions are less visible, individuals struggling with them often go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. They may feel isolated, thinking their fears are unique or irrational. Raising awareness of the diverse ways OCD manifests can help reduce stigma and encourage those affected to seek help. 

Seeking Help: Effective Treatments for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder   

The good news is that OCD is treatable. Common treatments include: 

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – Particularly Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), which helps individuals confront their fears without engaging in compulsions. 
• Medication – Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can help reduce OCD symptoms. 
• Mindfulness and Acceptance-Based Approaches – Learning to tolerate discomfort without performing compulsions. 

If you or someone you know struggles with unconventional OCD compulsions, reaching out to a mental health professional can be a crucial step toward regaining control. 

Conclusion 

OCD is far more than just excessive handwashing. From mental compulsions and relationship anxieties to moral scrupulosity and sensorimotor obsessions, this disorder manifests in many unique ways. By shedding light on these lesser-known compulsions, we can foster understanding, reduce stigma, and help those affected feel less alone.