In this podcast episode, Sariah Harrison explains many different subtypes of OCD including purely obsessional OCD, real event OCD, relationship OCD, responsibility OCD, suicidal OCD, and religious OCD or scrupulosity. She shares pieces of her personal experience with many of these, breaking down what obsessions and compulsions- the O and C in OCD- can actually look like. 

OCD can be so debilitating and it can also be so disguised- especially for religious OCD. 

YouTube “What real OCD can look like Part 2” Video: https://youtu.be/OLNStlHbIRw

Website: Navigating Religious OCD https://www.navigatingreligiousocd.com/

Email: navigatingreligiousocd@gmail.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/navigatingreligiousocd/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/navigatingreligiousocd

Contents of this episode:
00:00- Intro
00:35- Welcome & episode overview
00:44- Purely Obsessional- OCD Disguised
01:06- I didn’t recognize my experience with OCD as OCD. Here’s why…
02:15- Common compulsions with purely obsessional OCD
02:49- Real Event OCD
03:03- Real Event OCD- Analyzing past experiences
03:49- Common obsessions with Real Event OCD
04:10- OCD Obsessions do not align with your real desires & values
04:48- With OCD, there’s often intense anxiety. Here’s why…
05:00- Reassurance seeking- a common compulsions with real event OCD
05:29- Life with OCD becomes very narrow
06:32- Relationship OCD
07:54- Responsibility OCD
09:00- Intrusive suicidal thoughts that go against your true desires
10:13- What is Suicidal OCD?
10:24- Pieces of my experience with Suicidal OCD
13:03- Summary of Subtypes of OCD
13:48- Diving into Scrupulosity- What this can look like
14:38- How scrupulosity hijacks your religious experience
15:07- Scrupulosity defined
15:23- With Religious OCD there can be a lot of concern about doing things “right”
16:05- Pieces of my experience with Religious OCD
17:35- With Scrupulosity there’s serious anxiety around…
17:44- With Scrupulosity, it feels like your spiritual wellbeing is being threatened
19:23- Religious OCD can be so disguised
20:19- Real OCD Moments Introduction
20:36- Conclusion

Resources:

Johnson, J. C. (2018). Silent souls weeping: Depression- sharing stories, finding hope. Deseret Book.

Therapy in a Nutshell. https://therapyinanutshell.com/

McClendon, D. T. (2023). Freedom from scrupulosity: Reclaiming your religious experience from anxiety and OCD. Religious Studies Center & Deseret Book.

McGrath, P. (2025, May 22). A quick guide to some common OCD subtypes. NOCD / Treat My OCD. https://www.treatmyocd.com/blog/a-quick-guide-to-some-common-ocd-subtypes
This article was used as a guide to describe the different subtypes of OCD.

Music: Vlad Gluschenko — Waiting for this Moment
License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0
Unported: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en