We all have violent thoughts from time to time, and we all go a little mad sometimes but that is not always as it might just be an intrusive thought. These intrusive thoughts are part of the obsessions that make you participate in ritualistic and repetitive behavior called compulsions. When obsessions and compulsions center on experiencing or deliberately or carelessly causing harm, it’s called “harm OCD.” If you think you have it then please continue to read on to know more about it.
What is Harm OCD?
OCD, also called obsessive-compulsive disorder, is essentially a mental condition that is defined by obsessions and compulsions that people practice to get rid of their obsessions. Harm OCD is a subtype of OCD, which is characterized by people having doubts and fears about whether they are in control of themselves and if they could become violent towards themselves or others.
Read More: Can OCD Be Caused By A Traumatic Event?
Harm OCD symptoms:
Common Obsessions of Harm OCD
- Fear that one day you will snap and hurt a loved one or yourself
- Fear of giving into violent tendencies that you think you might have
- Fear of following a sudden burst of violent impulse
- Fear of committing suicide before hurting someone
- Fear that one day you’ll sleepwalk and cause harm without even knowing
Common Compulsions of Harm OCD
Often, harm OCD is confused with “pure OCD” since most compulsions that accompany Harm OCD go unnoticed by others as most of them are in the mind of the sufferer, but these are some of the most common symptoms of harm OCD that relate to compulsions.
- Obsessively checking yourself and others to ensure you didn’t hurt anyone
- Avoiding people or situations that may trigger your obsessions
- Asking assurances from others that you did not perform any harm
- Mentally reminiscing to ensure you did not hurt anyone
- Avoiding sharp objects such as knives that could be used to hurt someone
Supporting symptoms of Harm OCD
While the obsessions and compulsions described above are the main features of harm OCD, you may notice other symptoms such as the ones below, accompanying harm OCD:
- stress and anxiety
- panics
- excessive guilt
- negative self-perception
- a constant need for reassurance
- a sense of unease in situations where you think there is danger
- tic disorder
- avoidance behavior to keep away from triggers
- social anxiety and withdrawal
Perhaps, this was a good enough answer for a question like, “What are the harm OCD symptoms?”, if you were wondering something close by.
How is Harm OCD Different from Other Subtypes of OCD?
Harm OCD is defined by its own obsessions and compulsions that revolve around causing harm to another person or to the self, which could also be labeled as self-harm and therefore suicidal OCD.
Most people with harm OCD have intrusive thoughts about snapping and then acting out violently, and hurting someone else in the process. Meanwhile, other subtypes of OCD cause you to have intrusive thoughts about different fears, like in contamination OCD, where you are worried sick about getting sick.
Read More: Retroactive Jealousy OCD: A Deep Dive
Cause of Harm OCD
Just like normal OCD, causes of harm OCD vary from person to person. This is because there is no singular cause for this subtype of OCD. You know the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree!
Below are some factors that raise the risk of developing an OCD of harm subtype, including:
- Genetics & family history
- Brain structure
- Chemical imbalance
- Traumatic events
- Obsession with perfectionism
- No patience for uncertainty
Is Harm OCD Dangerous?
No harm OCD does not make you dangerous to yourself or others as it is just a mental condition revolving around unwanted thoughts that are essentially raking your brain.
People living with harm OCD do not want to actually cause harm, even though their intrusive thoughts may suggest otherwise. In fact, these obsessions and their compulsions come from an intense fear of causing harm. Experts believe people who suffer from harm OCD are not at greater risk than the general population of harming others. The fear and the intrusive thoughts that define you’re a threat to yourself or others are triggered biochemically in the brain specifically because it goes against your deeply held beliefs and values.
You are NOT a Monster.
If you have Harm OCD, you feel like you’re always on the run from your fears and you may fear that your exhaustion could lead to that one thought that makes you snap. You’ll also worry about why you didn’t see it as a warning. This can all change with cognitive behavioral therapy that will help you with how to stop minding the horror movies in your head without letting them define you in any way.
Read More: Understanding Postpartum OCD: Why Should We Really Be Talking About It
Harm OCD Treatment
The harm OCD treatment varies greatly and essentially depends on the progression of the ailment itself. Harm OCD treatment can essentially become unbearable and uncontrollable when it is left untreated. For that treatment is always necessary!
Research and evidence suggest antidepressant medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Fluvoxamine (Luvox), Fluoxetine (Prozac), Paroxetine (Paxil), or Sertraline (Zoloft) have been found to be effective for treating harm OCD symptoms.
Medication is most effective for OCD when paired with therapy. When it comes to using therapy for harm OCD then Exposure Response Prevention therapy, which is a specific subtype of psychotherapy called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), is the most suitable one. ERP is where a mental health professional puts patients into the same situations that are capable of triggering an OCD of harm subtype but in a controlled environment. This way the power of these triggers can loosen up over time.
Conclusion
Harm OCD with intrusive thoughts can be a dangerous ailment but not in the way you think. It is not dangerous for those around you but it is dangerous in terms of prognosis, especially when it is left untreated. We have jotted down some of the treatment options above and others like telehealth, which you can take advantage of from our mental health wellness center for treating OCD and other mental ailments like depression, anxiety, or bipolar: Inland Empire Behavioral Group.
