What is Visual Tourettic OCD?

What is Visual Tourettic OCD

Visual Tourettic OCD is a form of OCD where sufferers repeatedly involuntarily stare or glance at objects in the periphery of their vision or at socially inappropriate parts of other people’s bodies. They may find that they are unable to look away even though they want to through experiencing the flight, freeze response feelings and may ruminate about potentially negative social results of involuntary staring/glancing. Some people with Visual Tourettic OCD are hyper aware of people in the periphery of their vision. Another group fears that they are staring at people inappropriately, including repetitively looking (glancing) at people’s “private” areas in a way that feels out of their control.

A subset believes that they are staring /glancing at others, but they are not actually staring. Another group does stare/glance, and their behaviour is recognised by others. These obsessions and ruminations are completely against the person’s moral authentic values and beliefs. The glancing (visual tic) or staring, (fight, flight, freeze response) is completely involuntary and happens from severe anxiety when face to face with people or near people.

As Visual Tourettic OCD takes hold, many sufferers will begin to avoid all social situations, losing employment opportunities and cutting off contact with friends and family members. Some sufferers are fired from their jobs or ostracised in their communities. In extreme cases, they become reclusive or suicidal.

Visual Tourettic OCD is a type of OCD characterised by obsessions and compulsions that resemble those of classic OCD but with a distinct difference. The difference appears to be a visual tic that gives the impression of inappropriate staring/glancing at others’ face’s, private regions, animals’ genitals, people’s scars, disfigurements, and persons and objects in one’s periphery. This also can lead to people freezing in mid conversation (fixated on people’s eyes as well) when feeling severely triggered, when the visual tic is released the flight, freeze response can set in and the person feels petrified/paralysed with fear in that moment.

Some people may feel a somatic physical tension in their eyes/mouth slanting (dissociating) if they are triggered before the visual tic is released which can lead to even more distress. it’s important to see that people experiencing Visual Tourettic OCD have no sexual attraction or devious intention here.

Instead, due to the ego dystonic nature of the disorder, they suffer feelings of guilt and shame. But these are confused reactions due to doubt. In other words, they may mistrust their sexual preference and their moral authentic self. Therefore, it is crucial to understand that tic-related obsessions are a symptom of OCD, and seeking treatment through medication and ERP can help these people manage and overcome their symptoms.

It is also crucial to seek treatment from a qualified therapist provider who specialises in OCD.

This blog was written by Carol Edwards (ocdwriter.com) and Matthew Bannister (matthewbannister-cpss.com)

Helpful Resources

This is a OCD Visual Advocates Educational advocacy YouTube video raising awareness for Staring OCD/ Visual Tourettic OCD. Presented by Carol Edwards, Author & Matthew Bannister, CPSS.

Matthew Bannister, CPSS and Carol Edwards, Author. Had the honour to advocate and present Visual Tourettic OCD at the 2023 International OCD Foundation online conference with the incredible Dr. Jonathan Grayson, PhD. We hope this presentation shares more awareness for Visual Tourettic OCD and lessen the stigma. While also giving more knowledge, understanding, hope, empowerment and inspiration. Thank you again to Jon for agreeing to advocate with us!

Matthew Bannister’s personal story of lived experience of Visual Tourettic OCD and how he overcame it with recovery. Matthew is also being interviewed by host Kimberley Quinlan, LMFT. On Your Anxiety Toolkit podcast! (kimberleyquinlan-lmft.com)