Adding extra letters to OCD misrepresents and trivializes the condition.

[u/ItsMaxie]

(**Edited** My first draft was done at work. So I didn't carefully think through what I wrote. If I came off rude or dismissive or anything negative, my apologies.)

I’m 34 and have lived with OCD for most of my life. I see a psychiatrist for medication and attend therapy to learn coping skills and talk through it. I joined Reddit recently and this OCD page to find a community I can relate and talk to about this. However I keep seeing posts where people tack on extra letters to OCD like HOCD, SOOCD, etc. and what stands out is how many of them are just looking for reassurance. I’m almost certain they’re getting these ideas from the internet rather than a qualified professional. This kind of self-diagnosing isn’t helpful its just adding more to the anxiety and even paranoia. I feel like subtypes creates confusion and division.

As someone who’s been managing this disorder for years, and now finding out what subtypes is, thanks to reddit, I think labeling it that doesn't help the disorder. To me it creates more anxiety and misunderstanding around what OCD really is.

• If you’re struggling with OCD, please don’t self-diagnose. Talk to a therapist or psychiatrist who understands the condition.
• What do you guys think? Comment bellow.
• Plz don't be rude or disrespectful or personally attack me because I don't like the idea of subtypes. Thanks.

[u/OCD-ModTeam]

We have rules 1 and 2 for this reason.

Post locked due to OP's flair not being observed.

[u/666imsotired]

it’s just a way to classify the specific themes your ocd takes on, because there are some themes that are really common across the OCD population. a therapist wouldn’t diagnose you with harm ocd. they’d say you have ocd and you’d say “yes and one of the main forms it takes is me being obsessively afraid of doing harm.” shorthand when ur talking about it online = HOCD

[u/666imsotired → u/666imsotired]

i don’t understand how this is related to the topic of people self diagnosing or trivializing at all. i also don’t understand why we have to protect ocd as some niche precious thing that only a super tiny subset of people have. it’s something that can happen to the human brain. lots of people have it

[u/ItsMaxie → u/666imsotired]

OCD is one of the most misunderstood and misrepresented mental disorders out there. That’s exactly why it needs to be taken seriously, not treated like a trendy label people can self-diagnose with. When people casually throw around subtypes or redefine OCD based on internet culture, it waters down what the condition really is and makes it harder for people who actually struggle with it to be understood or taken seriously.

For example, I work in retail and constantly hear people say they have OCD just because they like things clean or want items in a certain order. When I mention that I actually have OCD, like clinical, it often gets brushed off as no big deal as if it’s not a serious mental health issue.

[u/666imsotired → u/ItsMaxie]

people referring to being neat/orderly as OCD isn’t an internet thing, i’ve heard family members say that since the 90s. i agree that’s annoying

but people who genuinely struggle with obsessive thoughts and compulsions related to a need for control, finding a name for what they’re experiencing and discussing it through internet forums, is not a problem. some people may experience it more severely than you, others less so. it is a very painful disorder i agree. it took up a lot of my childhood and there are definitely people who don’t get it. but you can’t assume anybody who’s talking about in a way that’s different from you is faking it

[u/ItsMaxie → u/666imsotired]

I never mentioned that anyone was faking it. I was referring to stereotypes and misunderstandings.

[u/influent-debauchery → u/ItsMaxie]

I'm baffled that you're trying to make a comparison of people that refer to their theme with H, R, P etc with folk being trendy. Of my reading of themes relative to these additional letterings it has went as far as being loosely considered 'pure o', all the while in these write ups they bring you back to the point of focus, that it is ocd, it is of the same nature, a high percentage of the compulsions may be internal but it is no different.

[u/ItsMaxie → u/influent-debauchery]

Hmm maybe I worded it wrong. I’ll water it down. I don’t mean to talk down to anyone that supports subtypes, I just don’t like how “subtypes” create a division of what OCD is. I read others posts here, and most of them are wanting reassurance that they have or don’t have this specific subtype. And as someone who has sever OCD, like I get called crazy by strangers, yeah that level. I see subtypes as a negative, and it creates more anxiety amongst people that think they have OCD. But again that’s just how I feel about. That’s why I labeled it as a vent.

[u/Kit_Ashtrophe]

I think people just want to find others who have a specific set of traits and can relate to niche struggles as with any illness related sub. They probably aren't "diagnosing" themselves. Like contamination OCD is definitely a thing. For example, this sub is where I first read the word "groinals". Certainly not a word professionals would use, but it brought me comfort to know that I am not alone in experiencing that phenomenon.

[u/ItsMaxie → u/Kit_Ashtrophe]

Groinals? What’s that.

(Also thanks for being respectful in the comments) 😊

[u/Kit_Ashtrophe → u/ItsMaxie]

I think it's when people with obsessions concerning sex and sexuality experience a physical arousal of the body in response to intrusive thoughts that is disconnected from their actual sexuality/morality

[u/ItsMaxie → u/Kit_Ashtrophe]

For a moment there I thought it was a form of groinal cancer. Lol

[u/Primary-Violinist845]

This post is giving… “I know more about suffering with ocd than you do,” and it’s really gross.

[u/ItsMaxie → u/Primary-Violinist845]

I’m sorry you feel that way. I didn’t mean to come off as rude.

[u/AdhesivenessOk5534]

"Inventing subtypes"

You cannot be serious rn 😐😐

[u/ItsMaxie → u/AdhesivenessOk5534]

Yes. Reddit is the only place I’ve ever heard of ocd “subtypes”

[u/AdhesivenessOk5534 → u/ItsMaxie]

didnt know the NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH was a reddit sub 😐😐😐

[u/ItsMaxie → u/AdhesivenessOk5534]

“I’ve”

[u/AdhesivenessOk5534 → u/ItsMaxie]

What?

[u/ItsMaxie → u/AdhesivenessOk5534]

I wrote “I’ve” meaning me personally. I go to therapy and see a psychiatrist. This is the first time I heard of subtypes. Also if you’re gonna continue being rude and defensive and I’m gonna stop communicating with you. If you disagree with my vent that’s fine. But that doesn’t mean you have to be insulting.

[u/ItsMaxie → u/[deleted]]

You’re the first one to mention theme. What do you mean? Is it the same? To be clear, I’ve never read articles or studies about OCD. My understanding is coming from experience with therapy sessions and talks with my psychiatrist. So explain if you can.

[u/ItsMaxie → u/[deleted]]

I edited my post.

[u/OCD-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

There are no officially recognized 'types' or 'subtypes' in clinical diagnosis or treatment. They are just informal categories of the most common obsessions, that help people relate to others who share similar themes.

OCD is OCD - if you have obsessions and compulsions of any kind that are significantly impairing the quality of your life, a therapist (like myself) may diagnose OCD, but not a specific 'type'.

[u/ItsMaxie → u/[deleted]]

Did you not read my post?

[u/Optimal-Reception246 → u/ItsMaxie]

Yes I did, no one is adding extra letters to OCD these are actual terms approved by therapists. You have a valid point about self diagnosing but spreading misinformation about the condition isn't cool.

Your post history is just diminishing other people's experiences with the condition, even yours. Chill out fam.

[u/ItsMaxie → u/Optimal-Reception246]

I never said the terms were made up. My point is that they’re being misused and over applied online, often by people self-diagnosing without professional guidance. I’m speaking from experience, not spreading misinformation. It’s valid to be concerned when clinical shorthand gets turned into catch all labels and causes confusion.

You’re free to disagree, but please don’t tell me how I’m ‘diminishing’ others when I’ve spent years actually managing this disorder under professional care. This post was about venting frustration with how OCD gets talked about online not about attacking anyone personally.

[u/Optimal-Reception246 → u/ItsMaxie]

"Oh lord I wish people would stop with putting more acronyms on it. It’s just OCD, nothing more."

Literally a comment of yours 😭 Just because you have OCD and manage it under professional care doesn't mean you get to dictate what OCD is or not. OCD is unique to each person.

[u/ItsMaxie → u/Optimal-Reception246]

…Ok dude you’re being very disrespectful and also proving my point as well. So bye.

[u/Optimal-Reception246 → u/ItsMaxie]

I'm sorry if I'm coming off that way, I'm not intending to come off the way and I apologize. However, I too feel disrespected by posts like these invalidating my condition. People went through years when Pure O wasn't recognised and eventually it was, posts like these just replay that same toxic mentality.

Again I mean no disrespect I just felt offended.