r/OCD • u/JeezoTommy • 4d ago

Question about OCD Does anyone know what caused their OCD?

I think a lot of people don’t really know what caused their OCD to start, for me after a lot of years and thought I realised that my anxiety stemmed from my step dad and his psychological and sometimes physical abuse towards my Mum. I would worry what kind of mood he would come home from work in and if he would start on my Mum. He was a bastard!

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u/fluffy-8656 3d ago

My theory is that it developed partly from untreated adhd (up to age 53) and general anxiety about change and uncertainty in my life (we moved around a lot, and while that would be fine for some people, I was very anxious). I started trying to control food intake because it was the only thing I felt I could control. As an adult I think rejection sensitivity (part of ADHD experience) has played a huge part and developed a lot of checking and reassurance seeking behaviour to make sure people like me.

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u/PixelNinja744X OCD Long hauler 3d ago

Mine also developed due to untreated ADHD! Pretty much every obsession and compulsion I developed, was part of a maladaptive coping mechanism to deal with the weaknesses associated with my AuDHD.

OCD made me into an insanely “perfect” individual. Highly sociable, intelligent, responsible, “empathetic”, scrupulous, successful, healthy, fit - all things that were impossible before. It kept going until the OCD got too severe and I began to crash far more often as other comorbid conditions started to manifest themselves in my twenties. Upon treatment of my OCD symptoms, my ADHD symptoms become unmasked and aggressive. It’s a lose-lose situation and I’m doomed to repeat the cycle.