Common Fears & OCD Subtypes
OCD subtypes can help people to find community with others who share similar experiences, and they can assist therapists in designing targeted treatment plans, but they don't tell the whole story. If you can't find your subtype, that doesn't mean you don't have OCD—everyone's experience is unique, and many people's OCD symptoms don't fit neatly into any specific theme.
Responsibility OCD
Responsibility OCD is characterized by ongoing intrusive thoughts, images or urges, and compulsive physical and/or mental behaviors around a person’s sense of responsibility for other people and animals around them.
Religious OCD, also known as scrupulosity OCD, is a common form of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in which someone experiences unwanted intrusive
Recurring or extreme fears of breaking the law can be involved in an OCD subtype known as Responsibility OCD.
Reviewed by Patrick McGrath, PhD
These thoughts may make you worry that you’re a bad person. Here’s what really may be going on.
By Jessica Migala
Reviewed by April Kilduff, MA, LCPC
If you’re locked in a cycle of fear and feelings of inadequacy about your morals, you might be dealing with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
By Erica Digap Burson
Reviewed by April Kilduff, MA, LCPC
If worries about locking your door are interfering with your life, getting in the way of your sleep, or causing anxiety, know this: you're not alone.
Fears and obsessions related to losing things are associated with the Responsibility subtype of OCD. This is often associated with the fear of losing things that are extremely important.
Reviewed by Patrick McGrath, PhD
Repetitive fear about saying the wrong thing may be a sign of OCD, in which a person obsessively worries about saying something inappropriate.
Reviewed by Nicholas Farrell, Ph.D
If you have overwhelming fears of psychosis, “going crazy,” or “losing your mind,” you may be suffering from a form of Responsibility OCD.
Reviewed by Dr. Jamie Feusner, MD
Discover how OCD can cause fears of being a bad person, and how to identify symptoms and triggers. Learn more about effective treatment options.
By Melanie Dideriksen, LPC, CAADC
Reviewed by Patrick McGrath, PhD
Intrusive thoughts are, by nature, out of alignment with one’s values—but nevertheless, they can feel extremely worrying and shameful.
By Elle Warren
Reviewed by April Kilduff, MA, LCPC
Learn about how you can identify and find help for “pet anxiety,” persistent stress or fear about the wellbeing of your furry friend.
By Erica Digap Burson
Reviewed by April Kilduff, MA, LCPC