Intrusive thoughts when you’re around trains? You’re not alone
This is a common experience—but that doesn't mean that it's not distressing. Learn when it may be a mental health concern, and how you can get help.
Learn moreIntrusive thoughts when you’re around knives? You’re not alone
This experience is extremely common, but it may sometimes signify a serious mental health condition that can disrupt your life.
Learn moreI’m always worried that my condom will break. What can I do?
Fear of an unplanned pregnancy, or spreading or contracting an STI, can become all-consuming and negatively impact people's lives in several ways.
Learn moreI’m afraid of using public transportation. Could therapy help?
There are a couple of reasons why this fear may arise, including phobias and OCD. Learn how ERP therapy can help free you from your fears and anxieties.
Learn moreI’m afraid I’ll randomly say a racial slur. What’s happening?
If you're plagued by unwanted, distressing fears or urges related to racist behavior that go against your values, this could be a sign of a mental health condition.
Learn moreI’m scared of hurting someone when I get mad. Can I trust myself?
If you obsess over whether you could hurt people when you get angry, simply because of fleeting thoughts or urges, you're not alone.
Learn moreCan I trust myself around children? A therapist’s advice
We'll explain why intrusive thoughts and obsessions about sexually harming children do not reflect OCD sufferers' true desires or values.
Learn moreI’m too scared to drive my car. Could therapy help?
If this scenario sounds all too familiar, you might be grappling with a lesser-known aspect of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
Learn moreCan You Have Social Justice or “Wokeness” OCD?
A strong fear of doing something harmful to a member of an underrepresented group—and the resulting consequences—may be a sign of a deeper problem.
Learn moreWhat does it mean if I have racist intrusive thoughts?
These thoughts may make you worry that you’re a bad person. Here’s what really may be going on.
Learn moreI keep having violent dreams. Should I be concerned?
When violent dreams become a pattern, it’s normal to feel concerned. In this article, we’ll explore why violent dreams occur and what you can do to cope.
Learn moreWhy Am I Scared of Being Home Alone? A Therapist’s Advice
It’s normal to want to feel safe when we’re at home. For you, however, the idea of being home alone stirs up an intense fear. Here's what you can do.
Learn moreConstant Fear of Going to Jail? It might be OCD
As an ERP-trained therapist, I have seen this fear come up for many of the people I work with to recover from OCD.
Learn moreI’m afraid to leave my home—Is it OCD, Agoraphobia, or a Specific Phobia?
Learn about the differences between OCD, Agoraphobia, and Specific Phobias that can cause a fear of leaving the home and how they can be treated.
Learn moreFear of being a bad person
Discover how OCD can cause fears of being a bad person, and how to identify symptoms and triggers. Learn more about effective treatment options.
Learn moreFear of leaving the faucet running
OCD involving fears about faucets often involves fears about harm coming to loved ones or oneself, or damage from leaving the faucet running.
Learn moreFear of leaving the stove on
Fear of leaving the stove on resulting in damage or injury is highly common for people suffering from Responsibility OCD or Harm OCD.
Learn moreFear of being a bad person
OCD focused on fear of being a bad person involves recurrent, persistent, unwanted and intrusive thoughts or images about being a bad person.
Learn moreFear of concussions
Fear of concussions in OCD involves recurrent, persistent, unwanted, and intrusive thoughts related to head trauma/concussion.
Learn moreExcessive apologizing – Is it OCD?
Excessive apologizing is common in OCD. Often, people with OCD feel the urge to compulsively apologize when it is not needed.
Learn moreFear of losing control
People with fear of losing control in OCD believe they can and must maintain perfect control of their actions to avoid negative consequences.
Learn moreFears about saying the wrong thing
Repetitive fear about saying the wrong thing may be a sign of OCD, in which a person obsessively worries about saying something inappropriate.
Learn moreFears about drowning
Drowning fears, characterized by the concern that the individual themselves or others might drown, may be a sign of Harm themes in OCD.
Learn moreFears about being a rapist
OCD focused on the fear of rape involves repeated intrusive, obsessive thoughts involving rape that cause intense anxiety or distress.
Learn moreFear of rain
If you’re experiencing recurring fears about rain such as acid rain, germs in rain, floods, or other dangers, it may be OCD.
Learn moreFears about Harmful Contamination
OCD fears about harmful contamination involve obsessive thoughts of harming others by spreading a contaminant.
Learn moreWhat if I’m really a child predator?
If you’re experiencing recurrent intrusive thoughts involving a worry or fear that you could be a child predator, it may be a sign of OCD.
Learn moreI’m afraid of drowning my baby in the bath
If you’re worried or have fears about drowning your baby in the bath, it may be a sign that you have OCD.
Learn moreI’m afraid of my pencil
If you’re worried about or afraid of using your pencil or being harmed by it, that may be a sign that you have OCD.
Learn moreI can’t stop thinking about molesting a child family member
If you're experiencing thoughts about molesting a child family member, it may be a sign that you have OCD.
Learn moreWhat if I assaulted a child in the past?
If you’re experiencing intrusive thoughts about the idea that you may have harmed kids in the past, it may be a sign that you have Harm OCD
Learn moreFear of becoming a serial killer
Harm OCD can include fear of becoming a serial killer or having a serial killer “personality” that leads to killing people.
Learn moreFears about harming one’s spouse
People with fear of spouse harm related OCD often experience recurrent and unwanted fears of harming their spouse or partner.
Learn moreFears about burns
OCD focused on the fear of being burned is categorized by obsessions surrounding the idea of burning oneself or someone else.
Learn moreFears about burglary or theft
Fear of theft in OCD is unwanted, intrusive thoughts about having items stolen, or worries about becoming a burglar and stealing from others.
Learn moreFears about car accidents
Fear of car accidents (Car Crash OCD) involves the fear of being in a car accident, whether caused by oneself or someone else.
Learn moreFears about plane crashes
Plane Crash OCD involves intrusive, distressing and unwanted thoughts or images related to oneself or a loved one experiencing a plane crash. It is often triggered when someone is traveling by plane, preparing to travel by plane, or when a loved one is traveling or preparing to travel by plane.
Learn moreFears about being racist
In Racism OCD people experience intrusive and unwanted thoughts or fear of being racist or being perceived as racist.
Learn moreFears about mass murder
With OCD fear of mass murder, people can have intrusive fears that they might lose control and commit mass murder.
Learn moreFears about cannibalism
Fear of Cannibalism OCD involves intrusive thoughts, images, urges about eating your own flesh or that of other people, or a desire to do so.
Learn moreFears about impulsive violent acts
Fear of compulsive violence is within the subtype of Harm OCD and includes fears of committing an impulsive violent act.
Learn moreFears about fire
Fear of Fire OCD involves unwanted thoughts including either accidentally or purposely causing harm with fire.
Learn moreFears about harming a sibling
Fear of harming siblings OCD includes intrusive thoughts/images about being aggressive or violent towards a sibling.
Learn moreFears about harming a baby
Baby harm themes in Harm OCD involve repetitive intrusive thoughts involving intentional or accidental harm to one’s own child, another young child, or babies and vulnerable children in general.
Learn moreFears about self harm
Self-Harm OCD fear can cause a person to experience intrusive & unwanted thoughts, images or urges of causing harm to others or themselves.
Learn moreSuicidal fears
Fear of suicide OCD themes in Harm OCD involve unwanted, intrusive, fearful thoughts about committing suicide.
Learn moreFear of Hit and Run
Fear of Hit and Run in OCD is characterized by unwanted thoughts or doubts about hitting a person or animal with your car and not remembering.
Learn moreWhat if I’m sexually stimulated by breastfeeding my child
If you’re worried about becoming sexually stimulated by breastfeeding your child, it may be a sign that you are suffering from Postpartum OCD.
Learn moreI get a tingling sensation in my groin when I’m around my newborn
If you’re worried about getting a tingling sensation in your groin when around your newborn, it may be one of the Postpartum OCD signs.
Learn more