Safety-related Obsessions (Concerns With):
- Harm will come to oneself or to another (e.g., illness, car accident, break-in)
- Harming oneself (e.g., what if I kill myself)
- Harming another (e.g., accidentally running over someone)
- Being responsible for something terrible happening, (e.g., fire, burglary, flood)
- Acting on an unwanted impulse, (e.g., lunging at someone, throwing the baby into traffic, stealing)
- Saying something inappropriate (e.g., insulting someone, swearing)
- Doing something inappropriate or embarrassing
Also:- Feelings of dread that suddenly occur
- Offensive words or images that come to mind
- Violent words or images that come to mind
Safety-related Compulsions (Concerns With):
- Phoning – calling family members to ensure they are OK
- Checking – doors are locked, alarm is on, stove is off, curling iron is unplugged, lights
- Checking – the news for accidents, hit & runs, crimes, fires
- Checking – the weather channel for storms, floods, tornados
- Checking – chairs / pathways for needles that “may be lying about” (AIDS)
- Re-tracing steps – when walking to ensure one has not hurt or harmed anyone
- Re-tracing route in car – to ensure one has not run over someone
- Reassurance seeking – asking questions:
- Evaluating / figuring out / reviewing / processing
are off, taps are off
– reviewing whether one was there and/or could have caused it
(e.g., “Did I just run over someone?”)
“Did I just cut you with the knife?”
“Do you think I would ever really hurt someone?”
“Was that a needle on the ground?”
(e.g.,“Why am I thinking that?”)
“What’s wrong with me?”
“Would I ever do that?”