OCD How Obsessions and Compulsions Can Change Over Time By Owen Kelly, PhD Owen Kelly, PhD Owen Kelly, PhD, is a clinical psychologist, professor, and author in Ontario, ON, who specializes in anxiety and mood disorders. Learn about our editorial process Updated on October 24, 2020 Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Akeem Marsh, MD Medically reviewed by Akeem Marsh, MD LinkedIn Twitter Akeem Marsh, MD, is a board-certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist who has dedicated his career to working with medically underserved communities. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Manchan/Getty Images The obsessions and compulsions associated with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), though generally similar enough to be recognizable, do vary from person to person. But many people with OCD wonder if their obsessions and compulsions will change or be replaced by others over time. For most people, the answer to that question is not a simple yes or no. Types of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Symptoms Numerous research studies have established that there are distinct types of obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms. The most common include: Obsessions to do with symmetry and repeating and counting, and ordering compulsions Hoarding obsessions and compulsions Contamination-related obsessions and cleaning compulsions Aggressive obsessions and checking compulsions Sexual/religious obsessions and related compulsions While it is certainly possible to experience one, some, or all of these symptom types, the vast majority of research indicates that once an OCD symptom type appears, it is very rare for it to disappear and be replaced by other symptom types. The types of OCD symptoms you have tend to remain fairly consistent over time. For example, if someone developed contamination-related obsessions and cleaning compulsions at age 13, they would be very unlikely to develop aggressive obsessions and compulsions or sexual/religious obsessions and related compulsions later in life. On the other hand, it is possible for OCD symptoms to shift within the same symptom type. Using the example above, someone with contamination-related obsessions and cleaning compulsions might first begin with fears centered on contracting the HIV virus, but later in life switch to fears around salmonella or some other pathogen. How the Severity of OCD Symptoms Fluctuates It is also important to remember that the severity of OCD symptoms can and do fluctuate over a person's lifetime, which means you may have times when your symptoms are worse and times when they ease up. This can be related to stress level, environment, the treatment methods you're using, and many other factors. Dealing With OCD-Related Anxiety There are different ways to deal with the anxiety you feel from your OCD and each choice you make is either positive (accepting the OCD and learning to tolerate it), negative (trying to escape or get relief), or neutral (avoiding the problem or ignoring it). Try to choose the positive, which will help strengthen your ability to cope with your OCD. Consider managing your anxiety by describing it to yourself, rating it, and deciding if you can endure it, and if so, for how long: Describe the anxiety. How does it make you feel? Do your palms feel sweaty? Is your heart beating faster? Are your muscles tense? Do you feel anxious and upset?Rate your anxiety on a scale of 0-10, with 0 being none and 10 being the worst anxiety you can think of.Decide if you can stand it. Can you endure the anxiety or do you need to seek relief? If you decide you can deal with it, pick an amount of time during which you will refrain from seeking relief. For instance, if you just shook hands with someone and you really want to break out your hand sanitizer, but you decide you can refrain for 10 minutes, do whatever you have to do to get through, whether it's deep breathing or focusing on something else. This is basically doing exposure therapy on your own and may help you feel more in control and less anxious. 7 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Simpson HB, Reddy YC. Obsessive-compulsive disorder for ICD-11: proposed changes to the diagnostic guidelines and specifiers. Braz J Psychiatry. 2014;36 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):3–13. doi:10.1590/1516-4446-2013-1229 Brakoulias V, Starcevic V, Berle D, et al. Further support for five dimensions of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2013;201(6):452–459. doi:10.1097/NMD.0b013e318294804e Nazeer A, Latif F, Mondal A, Azeem MW, Greydanus DE. Obsessive-compulsive disorder in children and adolescents: epidemiology, diagnosis and management. Transl Pediatr. 2020;9(Suppl 1):S76–S93. doi:10.21037/tp.2019.10.02 Cervin M, Perrin S, Olsson E, et al. The Centrality of Doubting and Checking in the Network Structure of Obsessive-Compulsive Symptom Dimensions in Youth [published online ahead of print, 2019 Aug 14]. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2019;S0890-8567(19)31442-X. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2019.06.018 Fineberg NA, Apergis-Schoute AM, Vaghi MM, et al. Mapping Compulsivity in the DSM-5 Obsessive Compulsive and Related Disorders: Cognitive Domains, Neural Circuitry, and Treatment. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2018;21(1):42–58. doi:10.1093/ijnp/pyx088 Tibi L, van Oppen P, van Balkom AJLM, Eikelenboom M, Emmelkamp PMG, Anholt GE. Predictors of treatment outcome in OCD: An interpersonal perspective. J Anxiety Disord. 2019;68:102153. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2019.102153 BeyondOCD.org. Self-Directed Treatment for OCD: The Irony of Doing the Opposite. By Paul R. Munford, Ph.D. BeyondOCD.org Additional Reading American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM–5). Fifth edition. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2013. Garnaat SL, Boisseau CL, Yip A, et al. Predicting course of illness in patients with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder. J Clin Psychiatry. 2015;76(12):e1605–e1610. doi:10.4088/JCP.14m09468 Sahoo P, Sethy RR, Ram D. Functional Impairment and Quality of Life in Patients with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Indian J Psychol Med. 2017;39(6):760–765. doi:10.4103/IJPSYM.IJPSYM_53_17 By Owen Kelly, PhD Owen Kelly, PhD, is a clinical psychologist, professor, and author in Ontario, ON, who specializes in anxiety and mood disorders. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? 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