Lesser-Known Kinds of OCD
People who have hypergraphia (also romantically, if not entirely correctly, termed “the midnight disease”) feel an overwhelming need to write. This condition is also often associated with temporal lobe epilepsy or with the “manic” phase of bipolar disorder. Alcohol and drug use can also give rise to temporary hypergraphia. Several famous authors, including Dostoyevsky, are believed to have had it.
Interestingly, quite a few well-known persons who were not professional writers are believed to have had hypergraphia as well. These include Van Gogh, who wrote two or three long letters a day to his brother, Theo. He also painted just as energetically. (Compulsive reading, by the way, is known as hyperlexia.)
Sound Sensitivity
Some people who have OCD are especially sensitive when it comes to noises, particularly sudden ones. That does not, however, mean that they themselves are incapable of shouting or making other loud sounds. Other people with OCD may be extra sensitive when it comes to textures and fabrics.
Multi-Symptom OCD
It is not uncommon for people who have OCD to have more than one kind. Sometimes, a second type becomes more noticeable over time, or may increase as the symptoms of the first kind diminish. Untreated, OCD can generalize, or “spread.” That is, a person who has one type may find herself so overwhelmed with anxieties that she may become fearful of still other things or situations.
Fact
Many people who have OCD keep supplies of things they believe they need to have on hand at all times, or for dealing with their feared situations. Just as a person who does not have OCD might carry extra cash in case he should need it, a person with OCD might carry all kinds of cleaning, decontaminating, or antibacterial-type supplies “just in case.”
Don't See Yours Listed Here?
Even if you haven't read anything in this chapter that really resonates with your experience, you may still have some type of OCD. The types listed here make up the majority of OC behaviors, but the truth is that obsessions and compulsions can be almost limitless in type. (That said, even the most unusual OC worries will most likely fall into one of the categories covered in this chapter.)
From a fear of eating certain foods to being afraid to fall asleep, any kind of excessive and persistent worry could indicate OCD. It's in your best interest to consult with a professional to know for sure.
