Do I have harm OCD?

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Please check at least one item. I often have unwanted thoughts and/or mental images of causing harm or somehow being responsible for harm. These thoughts and/or mental images cause me great distress, and I can’t get them out of my mind no matter how much I try. I frequently think about acting in a manner that is purposely harmful or violent (i.e. stabbing someone, shooting someone, pushing someone into traffic). I often think about accidentally harming someone (i.e., running over a pedestrian, poisoning my children, exposing others to toxic chemicals). I frequently worry that I will be indirectly responsible for something bad occurring (i.e., ‘If I don’t pick up this trash, someone may hit it with their car, lose control, and get into a terrible accident, and it will be my fault’). I often worry that if I don’t perform certain superstitious behaviors, bad things will occur and it will be my fault (i.e. needing to knock on wood, count to certain number, or touch something a certain number of times in order to ensure that your child doesn’t get sick). I frequently obsess about harming my children, spouse, parents, or others who are important to me. I frequently obsess about harming innocent strangers. I frequently obsess about harming myself or committing suicide, and find these thoughts very uncomfortable.. I avoid being around certain people, objects, places, or situations (i.e., knives, scissors, guns, cars, schools, theatres, medications, etc.) in order to avoid having thoughts about causing harm. When I drive, I often need to check under or around my car, or drive back to where I was previously driving, to check that I have not run someone over with my car. I limit my driving to certain areas or times in order to avoid running someone over and/or to avoid having thoughts about running someone over. I no longer drive at all due to my fears that I will run someone over with my car. I often repeat routine, daily activities to ensure that I did not or will not harm someone (e.g., washing my hands, locking the doors, turning off the stove, putting away sharp objects such as knives or scissors). I often replay events in my mind in an effort to get a sense of certainty that I have not harmed someone. I often mentally review my unwanted harm thoughts in order to check that I did not enjoy them or find them acceptable. I obsess about acting in a manner that is sexually violent or criminal, even though I find these behaviors abhorrent (i.e., being a rapist or pedophile). I prefer to avoid being around certain people in order to avoid having violent and/or inappropriate sexual thoughts about them. I often repeat certain phrases or prayers, to ensure that nothing bad happens, or to rid myself of unwanted thoughts that I have done (or will do) something harmful. I sometimes perform superstitious behaviors (i.e., knock on wood, count to a certain number) to ensure that nothing bad happens, or to rid myself of unwanted thoughts that I have done (or will do) something harmful. I repeatedly ask others for reassurance that I have not done (or will not do) something harmful. I avoid certain movies, tv shows, books, newspapers, magazines, or websites in order to avoid having unwanted harm thoughts. I often read certain books, newspaper articles, magazines, or websites (or watch certain tv shows or movies) in an effort to test whether I am enjoying thoughts about harm. I sometimes wash or shower in order to get rid of ‘bad’ thoughts. I often repeat routine behaviors (e.g., locking doors, turning off light switches, turning off stove burners, etc.) because I feel I need to do them with a ‘good’ thought in my mind, not a ‘bad’ thought. I am often worried that I will have harm thoughts forever and that they will ultimately drive me insane and/or ruin my life. My obsessional thoughts are interfering with my relationships and/or with my academic or professional functioning.

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There is a low probability that you have Harm OCD. You may be more obsessive or compulsive about unwanted harming thoughts than most people, but it is unlikely that your concerns significantly impact your life.

There is a medium probability that you have Harm OCD. You likely experience a moderately high amount of distress related to certain unwanted harming thoughts, and likely spend more time than most people doing unnecessary behaviors.

There is a high probability that you have Harm OCD. You most likely have a great amount of distress related to certain unwanted harming obsessions, and likely spend a significant amount of time doing unnecessary compulsive and/or avoidant behaviors directly related to these obsessions.