Scary Thoughts as Costumes: The Illusion of Danger

On October 14, 2012, in Harm-Related Symptoms, OCD, OCD - General, Sexual Symptoms, “Pure-O” Symptoms, by Steven J. Seay, Ph.D.

It’s nearly Halloween, and kids around the country are digging through dusty closets and plundering the aisles of local Halloween shops in search of the perfect costume.

Halloween is the one night of the year when we give ourselves permission to be silly, scary, or fantastical. We can act a little weird, and nobody will …  (read more)

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Postpartum OCD – Fear of Harming Your Baby

On August 7, 2012, in Harm-Related Symptoms, OCD, Sexual Symptoms, “Pure-O” Symptoms, by Steven J. Seay, Ph.D.

Parents brace themselves for many changes when a new baby comes home. As new routines replace old, life quickly becomes a confusing jumble of cherished memories, bottles, and dirty diapers.

Parenting can be joyful, but it can also be terrifying.

Parenting comes with many important responsibilities, and it can be intimidating–if not downright frightening–to be …  (read more)

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Suicide Obsessions: Fear of Killing/Harming Yourself

On July 20, 2012, in Harm-Related Symptoms, OCD, by Steven J. Seay, Ph.D.

Thoughts of death, dying, and suicide are an unfortunate reality for many individuals. In the U.S. alone between 2008 and 2009, approximately 3.7% of adults (8.3 million Americans) reported having suicidal thoughts (Crosby et al., 2011).

During that same time frame, approximately 2.2 million U.S. adults reported making specific plans to commit suicide. …  (read more)

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Fear of Hurting Other People

On June 26, 2012, in Harm-Related Symptoms, OCD, by Steven J. Seay, Ph.D.

The fear of harming others can be a sign of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a neurobiological condition that is associated with repetitive, intrusive, distressing thoughts that can’t easily be dismissed.

Fear of Harming Other People On Purpose

Some aggressive obsessions involve the fear of harming others intentionally. In my last post about the fear …  (read more)

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Aggressive Obsessions: Fear of Harming or Killing Others

On June 23, 2012, in Harm-Related Symptoms, OCD, by Steven J. Seay, Ph.D.

Aggressive obsessions go by many names. Harm obsessions, violent obsessions, morbid obsessions…the list goes on…

These symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) involve the fear of harming or killing other people. In other cases, aggressive obsessions are directed at the self, such as when individuals experience unwanted, intrusive, and recurrent thoughts about hurting or killing …  (read more)

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Harm Obsessions & Violent Obsessions

On June 22, 2012, in Harm-Related Symptoms, OCD, by Steven J. Seay, Ph.D.

Imagine that you’re leaning down to kiss your young daughter goodnight, when BAM! You are jolted by an image of yourself stabbing her to death.

Alternatively, picture yourself as a young child who is intensely afraid of playing with your new puppy…not because you’re afraid of dogs but because you are afraid that if you …  (read more)

24 Comments

OCD Books & OCD Websites

On May 21, 2012, in OCD - General, by Steven J. Seay, Ph.D.

This is a recommended list of OCD books and OCD websites that I consider to be essential reading for individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder. In addition to my formal training in OCD treatment, these OCD books and websites have had a profound impact on how I conceptualize and treat OCD.

This list is not intended to …  (read more)

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Checking & OCD: Part 1 (Checking for Safety)

On April 17, 2012, in Checking-Related Symptoms, OCD, by Steven J. Seay, Ph.D.

Compulsive checking often begins innocently enough. One check here, two checks there…

But OCD’s greed knows no bounds.

What starts out as a simple check “just to make sure” eventually spirals into disabling OCD doubt that can come to predominate innumerable situations and scenarios.

Checking behaviors often emerge in situations in which “being irresponsible” might …  (read more)

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HOCD: Homosexual OCD & Sexual Orientation OCD

On April 12, 2012, in OCD, Sexual Symptoms, “Pure-O” Symptoms, by Steven J. Seay, Ph.D.

Fear of Being Gay (Homosexual OCD / HOCD)

Emerging sexuality can be confusing for any teen or young adult, and gay teens face a variety of unique challenges over the course of adolescence.

In addition to learning to understand their own sexuality, gay teens must navigate complex situations and pressures that may not be relevant …  (read more)

176 Comments

Sexual Obsessions in OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder)

On April 10, 2012, in OCD, Sexual Symptoms, “Pure-O” Symptoms, by Steven J. Seay, Ph.D.

Sexual obsessions in OCD are recurrent unwanted sexual thoughts, such as the fear of being attracted to something unwanted, taboo, or morally “unacceptable” based on one’s particular worldview.  Although all forms of OCD can be debilitating, sexual obsessions can be especially confusing and disabling for sufferers because sexual obsessions target one’s fundamental identity as a …  (read more)

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