What Is Self-Harm OCD? Causes and Symptoms Explained
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition that involves unwanted or intrusive thoughts followed by repetitive actions or behaviors, which are also known as compulsions.
The basis of all forms of OCD are similar, but the obsessions and compulsions may differ from person to person, especially depending on the specific OCD diagnosis.
Checking doors and locks, counting, organizing items in a specific way, or a fear of contamination. These are all common obsessions associated with OCD.
But a person can obsess or have a fear of anything. For some, those obsessions and compulsions are focused on harm.
Let’s learn more about self-harm OCD.
What Is Self-Harm OCD?
Self-harm OCD is a type of obsessive-compulsive disorder. What makes this different is that an individual will experience unwanted or intrusive thoughts that center around harming themselves. While it’s common for everyone to think about getting hurt in different scenarios throughout their lives, individuals struggling with self-harm OCD will experience graphic thoughts that become difficult to ignore.
The Cause
Similar to other forms of obsessive-compulsive disorder, there isn’t a specific cause or reason for someone developing Self-Harm OCD. It’s believed that there are a combination of factors that can influence the development of this condition. These are some of the most common of those factors:
- Brain abnormalities
- Brain structure
- Environmental factors
- Genetics
- Past traumatic events
The Signs and Symptoms
OCD is known for the obsessions and compulsions that a person struggles with, but other signs and symptoms can occur. These are some of the most common:
- Anxiety
- Avoidance
- Guilt
- Low self-esteem
- Negative thoughts of self
- Seeking constant reassurance
- Social isolation or withdrawal
- Uneasiness
- Panic Attacks
Common Obsessions and Compulsions
Self-harm OCD involves any type of obsession or compulsion that involves harming oneself. These are some of the most common.
Obsessions
- Accidentally harming oneself
- Examining your thoughts to see if they indicate suicide
- Imagining jumping into traffic or crashing your car
- Intrusive visuals of self-harming or self-mutilation
- Thinking about jumping off of a bridge or balcony
- Thoughts about swallowing an entire bottle of pills
- Visualizing cutting yourself or hitting yourself
- Worrying about becoming down or depressed
Compulsions
- Avoiding public spaces and places
- Avoiding media (books, music, movies, television shows) that feature self-harm
- Constantly seeking reassurance
- Monitoring your own thoughts to make sure they aren’t negative or harmful
- Hiding specific objects or items that may be dangerous (knife, scissors, rope, lighters, razor blades)
- Excessive research to try to feel better about your fears
- Praying to be safe and secure
- Performing rituals like counting, touching, or tapping as a way to prevent something bad from happening
- Driving the same route over and over again
Treatment Options
Self-harm OCD can be difficult to diagnose. The signs and symptoms, as well as the obsessions and compulsions, can make it difficult to determine whether these feelings are real or not. More often than not, people who experience self-harm OCD don’t actually want to harm themselves. They just have these unwanted and intrusive thoughts about self-harm that feel out of their control because they’re afraid of the idea of self-harm.
One of the best treatment options for OCD, including self-harm OCD, is to seek professional help through a licensed and trained mental health professional. A working professional will be able to assess your unique needs and determine the best course of treatment for you.
There are many different well-suited options for this form of OCD, like incorporating mindfulness techniques, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), or exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP). Don’t delay in getting the help you need and deserve. Reach out today for further information. Together, we can explore which OCD therapy option would be best for you.