New York Center for Obsessive - Somatic Obsessions

Somatic Obsessions
Somatic Obsessions Individuals who experience somatic obsessions, mainly obsess about the fear of developing a serious life-threatening illness. Individuals with somatic obsessions are usually checkers and seekers of reassurance. Somatic obsessions usually focus on one illness at a time. The most common somatic fear is of developing Acquired Immunodeficieny Syndrome (AIDS). Checking compulsions consisting of checking and rechecking the body, as well as reassurance seeking, are commonly associated with this obsession
 
Joey’s Story
Joey is a 20 year college Junior at a state university. Joey is very popular and belongs to a fraternity. Joey has been told since he is a young boy how handsome and intelligent he is. Joey is an individual who doesn’t lack self-confidence when it comes to approaching and dating individuals of the opposite sex. Joey was actually voted homecoming king last year. However, Joey is misunderstood by his friends both male and female. While many of Joey’s friends are sexually active, Joey shies away from sexual intercourse due to his enormous fear of contracting HIV. Joey’s friend tell him that if he uses a condom the chances are practically zero of contracting a disease. But for Joey 99.9% is not enough, Joey wants to know 100% that nothing will happen. That hasn’t stopped Joey from dating it has just made staying a prolonged relationship difficult. Joey has always made excuses that he likes to wait or that he doesn’t believe in pre-marital sex due to his religion. But the truth remains that Joey is being silently tortured by his obsessions. It isn’t that Joey doesn’t want to it is just the fear that paralyzes him. On occasion, when Joey has intimate relations with a girl he continuously interrupts to make sure the condom is on correctly and that it hasn’t slipped off. Such ritualistic checking has turned Joey off completely to the whole subject of sex. In addition, in high school Joey had always donated blood to help individuals in need. But, since he has been getting the intrusive thoughts the idea of a needle makes Joey quiver.

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