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Five Variations of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

There are many traits of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD); this article will discuss the five main traits of OCD. The five traits are: cleaners, checkers, obsessionals, orderers, and hoarders. This article is not intended to state that anyone with these traits has OCD; only a health care professional with the aid of a mental health therapist can diagnose OCD. It is also important to note that the symptoms of OCD could be something more serious, which it cannot be, stressed enough to seek out professional help.

Cleaners have the intense fear of germs and disease. The sufferers of this particular OCD will wash their hands repetitively and may have a ritual in the process. The house may be cleaned from top to bottom daily ensuring that there is absolutely no germs or disease in any cracks or corners of the household. This particular OCD sufferer believes that everything has a possibility to be infested with germs and disease. They also believe that if they do not have a sterile environment around them, they will contract the disease and fall ill.

Checkers constantly check and recheck everything that could cause harm or injury. This would include locking and unlocking the door several times to ensure that it is indeed locked. Checking and rechecking appliances to make certain that they are off and or unplugged. With this symptom, simple tasks could be overwhelming. This sufferer believes that the one time that they do not check and recheck what it was they did, harm could befall them or someone else and they alone would be to blame.

Obsessionals suffer from the thoughts of harming other people or themselves. This thought process does not have to have any provocation from any person. The thoughts are so real to them that the person with this trait of OCD must perform a mantra, count relentlessly, or be in constant prayer. Most persons with this trait do not wish to hurt anyone and will hurt themselves to remove the imagery from their thoughts.

Orderers are similar to perfectionists and should not be confused with the similarity. Some symptoms of this OCD trait are that everything has to be in its place and everyplace has to have a thing. This person may even go to the extent of having the labels in the fridge or cupboards positioned in a way so that it is easily read. The similarity to perfectionism ends at this point. If something is not the way it has to be, this trait will obsess over it until it is exactly done correct. If someone disorganizes the Orderers effects, they will become extremely upset or even violent.

Hoarders are as the name implies. Sufferers of the Hoarding OCD trait cannot get rid of anything that they posses. This may even include trash. The hoarder comes in two types which may signify the combination of the Orderer trait. However the hoarder trait would have everything they owned in disarray in their household. Nothing would be discarded and would have no organization to the mass that would surround them. Where the Orderer combination may come into play is that the Hoarder would have everything they owned in a systematic order and may even be labeled to be retrieved at a moments notice.