Staring OCD can mean different things to different people. There are three ways that come to mind, one of them because I experience it.
The first is staring at things to prevent bad things happening. This can be making sure doors are locked, ovens are off and windows are closed. The more I look the less I believe my eyes, and this leads me to just staring at them for long periods of time.
Another way staring can be associated with OCD is a fear of staring at people, or being stared at.
This might involve checking that you aren’t staring at someone, worrying about being perceived as strange, or feeling overwhelming guilt for staring.
Maybe you are terrified of being stared at and feel the need to check if this is true.
This article has been one of the most viewed articles on the site for a while now. Meaning there’s a high chance you are experiencing one of these.
The good news is, you aren’t the only one. It seems to be a very common intrusive thought and/or compulsion.
Behind every short story is a real lived experience shared by a reader on the OCD Log. The stories are fictionalised to protect privacy while reflecting those experiences.
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18 responses
Deafess and sudden hearing loss rewired my brain to exactly the type of staring OCD you described and is for me very destressing sexual staring OCD women’s breasts mens genitals door checking tap checking not so bad I can live with that and can control that part of my OCD but the sexual staring episodes . I am at my wit’s end and can barely function at work because of it .
Thank you Nathan for your comments on this, I am sorry you are having similar compulsions. Have you been receiving treatment or therapy for this as of yet? I am currently going to CBT therapy and I am planning to bring this specific compulsion up in the upcoming sessions.
Hey, It is due to just low esteem,increase your self- esteem,you can research about the same. believe me its work.
No treatment ongoing but have an appointment with NHS phone talk session which is a start in Feb 2022 but NHS is overwhelmed at the moment so no face to face therapy yet private costs to much and I don’t have the money
I feel you. It can take a while to get therapy happening, however it is great to know you have it coming in February. I had to wait a little while for mine, but I do hope that you knowing therapy is coming is helping to reduce some anxiety. It will be good for you to speak to a specialist about your specific compulsions and be able to manage them with the techniques they provide. Just stay strong until then and know better days are coming. They may even be able to get you in quicker! Who knows 🙂
Thanks mate I am doing some self help to.
Great stuff 🙂 things will improve, we’ve got this!
Do you have a way to distract your thoughts about your problem and go out to run or do something active that might take the stress away? You might also find a way to look up about OCD using nutrition to slow it down & bring your health back some other way. If you do, please remember to think about what the amount is & there will be a time condition that if healing works, will not go away overnight. Keep inspiring!
Thanks for commenting, improving my diet has certainly helped my anxiety go down, and with that a lot of my compulsions. Keeping busy, usually with a long walk, video editing or blogging also is a nice distraction too. The desire to stare (as a tic) is usually a sudden urge, and in that moment I do it or don’t do it. If it is because I am doing checking compulsions, I usually can’t do anything else until I have done the check.
It is hard to know whether it is Tourette’s or OCD, or both, but in those brief moments I do try to think of other things to distract myself. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t! Thank you so much for your thoughts and words of support 🙂
your so very welcome! not many have ever been thinking of food or even what is growing around us!
Hey I don’t stare at genitals or stuff luckily, but I do stare at faces to see if they are better looking
Is this part of Starting OCD
Waiting for your response
Hello Vikram, unfortunately we won’t be able to give you a diagnosis here, as you would have to speak to a professional regarding your specific symptoms. However, if you feel you do this as an obsession and is becoming a problem in day to day life, it could well be. It would be recommended that you speak to your family doctor or a specialist if you can! Staring is a very common problem people experience and it manifests in a number of ways.
I don’t need diagnosis I have studied psychology as minor subject what I’m asking is does staring at faces is also part of it since you are the author of this article maybe you know about it in more detail
Apologies, I didn’t see this comment until now 🙂 faces can be a part of it, yes. Staring can be at anything, if it is causing stress or anxiety it can be at anything at all. The article focuses on staring at faces and people as this is something many people with OCD experience in particular.
If I rephrase it, is it all about genital staring or it also includes things like hair style and face need a bit clarification on this since almost every article on net mentions genital only
If I rephrase it, is it all about genital staring or it also includes things like hair style and face need a bit clarification on this since almost every article on net mentions genital only
If I rephrase it, is it all about genital staring or it also includes things like hair style and face need a bit clarification on this since almost every article on net mentions genital only
Articles will mention genitals so much because it’s one that brings people a lot of anxiety. However staring can be at anything. Basically, if you are becoming stressed, worried or anxious because of a staring issue (regardless of what you’re staring at), it could be a problem with OCD or another condition that needs addressing. I would definitely recommend speaking to a specialist as they can speak to you at length about your specific concerns.