Checking OCD
Checking OCD: Signs and Symptoms
Checking OCD is sub-type of OCD that is characterized by checking compulsions. Fears may be present in this sub-type that if the person does not check whatever they are fearful of, then something bad might happen to themselves or other people. This fear and worry can cause the person a great deal of anxiety, which is lessened by their checking behavior. Checking on what they are worried about helps them get certainty that the fear does not happen.
Compulsions are rituals/behaviors that offer relief from the obsessions. Engaging in the compulsion can reduce the anxiety and provide short term relief. A person is more likely to seek that short term relief with the compulsion, and look to reinforce the OCD cycle that keeps them stuck.
Common Checking Fears and Obsessions:
Did I turn the stove off?
Did I hit someone driving?
Did I leave something plugged into the outlet? What if it catches on fire?
Did I leave the faucet running? What if it floods my house?
Did I blow out the candle? What if it burns my friends house down?
Did I lock the door before I left?
Did I close the garage door?
We can see some similar patterns emerge within these examples. Fears and doubts are present through a number of different themes and topics. Further obsessions one may see could include worries about safety, health, making a mistake, or engaging in an inappropriate behavior. With these obsessions, comes the emotional reaction such as distress. Following the obsession and distressing emotion, a person might engage in a compulsion to get relief. That compulsion ends up strengthening the OCD cycle.
Common Checking Compulsions:
Physical Inspection: Looking closely at things. Taking photos of things. Physically examining the item.
Avoidance: Avoiding leaving the house so I do not have to worry about checking if the door is locked. Avoiding using the stove so I do not have to worry about checking to see if I turned it off properly.
Reassurance-seeking: Asking others for reassurance. Seeking certainty from others in order to get the relief to move on.
Mental Rituals: Mentally reviewing and replaying my actions-reviewing the memory of me turning the stove off. Ruminating over the “what ifs” that could happen if I did not check the item properly.
Checking OCD Example:
Eric for many years growing up would watch as his mother repeatedly took pictures on her phone of the door lock and the stove burners. Eric didn’t know much about OCD growing up and came to normalize his mothers behavior as he saw it so frequently. Gradually, Eric began to exhibit similar behaviors. Eric didn’t think too much about it, often telling himself that it is better to be safe then sorry; something his mother would tell him often. Besides, the photo taking only took him a few minutes. Eric would gradually take a few pictures of the stove turned off, or the door locks or the garage door being closed. It would give him relief to look at the pictures when sitting on his long subway ride to work to know for sure that the items were turned off. Anytime an intrusive thought came in about what if he didn’t turn off the stove and a fire happened, he would pull his phone out and look at his pictures. While a few pictures would suffice, years and years of these behaviors increased the severity. Soon it would take Eric hours to leave the house as his picture taking took more of his time. One or two pictures would not be enough, he would need dozens of each to really feel sure. Eric would ruminate more over these worries and it became harder for him to focus on work and even leave the house. Eric is exhibiting symptoms of checking OCD.
Treatment for Checking OCD:
Treatment for this sub-type of OCD, like all forms of OCD is the gold standard of treatment, exposure and response prevention (ERP). Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) looks at the idea that triggering situations and thoughts are at the core of OCD. Ongoing exposure to these triggers without engagement in rituals can reduce the severity felt. As a licensed mental health therapist trained in ERP, I will assist you through the exposures and how to implement effective response prevention measures. If you feel that OCD has had a negative impact on your life, you might consider counseling and ERP to learn how to handle it more effectively. Please feel free to reach out for a free consultation, where we can discuss the impacts of OCD and benefits of counseling/ERP.
