Another Do I Have OCD?

[gbboone]

Hello. I have been doing research on OCD for a few weeks now. I think I may have OCD, possibly the pure-o form.

I keep getting impulses all day long about hurting people or things. Whenever I talk to someone, I feel the urge to hurt them, even if they are being nice. I fear that I am going to do it one day. I keep telling myself not to, but the urge is hard to get rid of. I am always relieved when they stop talking to me. The urge goes away a few seconds afterwards. Or I could be carrying a baby and get an urge to drop it on a hard floor. Or I feel the urge to hurt objects. I could be riding in a car and suddenly feel the need to throw my cell phone out the window. I always keep my windows up; it is intensified when they are down. This also happens much of the time, with lots of objects, but it is not as bad as my urge to hurt people.

I also have a social anxiety. Whenever I think I said something wrong to someone by accident, it disables my ability to concentrate for hours. And it's little things. Like saying something in a slightly angry tone to someone I don't know. It's more than the normal "Ahh!!! I have to fit in" thing at my age.

I don't know if this has anything to do with OCD, but I am also very resistant to change. I go psychotic when my parents mention things like switching the carpet out for wood flooring. It's hard for me to calm down.

I think it might be pure-o because I don't really have any compulsions. I do count to 6 five times on my fingers to get rid of the thoughts a lot, sometimes 100 times a day. (I counted once) It is a constant battle with my mind every day. I try to get rid of the toughts, but they just come back.

I know I need to go to a physiatrist to know for sure, but I don't want to make an appointment if there is no chance I have it. So I am asking you.

[Syvelocin]

There's of course a chance that you have it. Pure obsessions, as you said. Though do know that OCD is not violent tendencies and social anxiety. But what you're describing can be easily characterized as OCD.

Diagnostic Criteria (DSM-IV 300.3 OCD)

A. The Person Exhibits Either Obsessions or Compulsions

Obsessions are indicated by the following:
The person has recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses, or images that are experienced, at some time during the disturbance, as intrusive and inappropriate and that cause marked anxiety or distress
The thoughts, impulses, or images are not simply excessive worries about real-life problems
The person attempts to ignore or suppress such thoughts, impulses, or images or to neutralize them with some other thought or action
The person recognizes that the obsessional thoughts, impulses, or images are a product of his or her own mind (not imposed from without as in thought insertion)

Compulsions are indicated by the following:
The person has repetitive behaviors (eg, hand washing, ordering, checking) or mental acts (eg, praying, counting, repeating words silently) that the person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession or according to rules that must be applied rigidly
The behaviors or mental acts are aimed at preventing some dreaded event or situation; however, these behaviors or mental acts either are not connected in a realistic way with what they are designed to neutralize or prevent or are clearly excessive.

B. At some point during the course of the disorder, the person has recognized that the obsessions or compulsions are excessive or unreasonable. (Note: this does not apply to children.)

C. The obsessions or compulsions cause marked distress, are time consuming (take more than 1 hour a day), or significantly interfere with the person's normal routine, occupational/academic functioning, or usual social activities or relationships.

D. If another axis I disorder is present, the content of the obsessions or compulsions is not restricted to it (e.g., preoccupation with drugs in the presence of a substance abuse disorder).

E. The disturbance is not due to the direct physiologic effects of a substance (e.g., drug abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition.

[georgiamay]

No one here can diagnose you, but we can tell you that the best way to find out would be to make an appointment with a doctor or GP, and if they think it's a strong possibility, they'll refer you to a psychiatrist.

It sounds like it could be, but OCD and social anxiety are two seperate things.

See a doctor to make sure. Even if it isn't OCD, making the appointment wouldn't be wasting anyone's time, as it's better to know that to not know and leave it untreated.

Good luck :hug3:

[gbboone]

Thanks, everyone!