OCD vs Narcissism?

I suffer from OCD symptoms, like I feel like people are constantly talking behind my back and making plans to influence me negatively or wanting to do me harm in some way (just the tip of the ice-berg), BUT I go through periods where these thoughts don't cross my mind at all. That's what got me thinking that maybe I don't have a mental condition at all, but am just a plain narcissist as I think everything is always about me, me, me?
How will I know the difference?

The symptoms you describe don't sound like OCD or narcissism to me; I'd go see a mental health professional and see what they say. You could have a different anxiety disorder (OCD is an anxiety disorder), or paranoia, or a personality disorder; there are lots of mental conditions that have symptoms common with what you describe and the degree to which you have any of them or wish to work on them is only something a professional and you could figure out together.

To me, it doesn't sound liek OCD. Choosing to see a psychologist really is dependant on how much the worrying is affecting your life. Best of luck to you!

Thank you for the replies.
I'm sorry for saying I have OCD, it's just that I once confessed my problems to an older, wiser person, and she said that my symptoms sound like OCD, even though I've always felt it's paranoia or anxiety.
I don't have medical insurance, and really can't afford to see a professional. But, it's getting to a point where I'll HAVE to make a plan soon, cause it's starting to make me not wanna get up in the mornings, I'm constantly plagued by thoughts that people don't like me and think I'm a back-stabber, liar or worse things... I just HATE it.
I've decided that I'll use my Christmas bonus this year, and instead of using it all to relieve some debt, I will be spending half on my debt and half on seeing someone who can help me, even if it's just 2 or 3 session. Reckon that will be enough?

Well elfina, my heart goes to you... I've got something similar to you, I always think that people are trying to hurt me, especially those closest & most precious people to me (yeah! how ironic!), that I keep obsessing with them & bugging them with endless stupid obsessive Qs #~# I've also got PO & other OCD stuff, my whole life is insane #_#

Anyway, I don't think that any mental case is clear-cut diagnosed as a single simple disorder, each case has many symptoms criss-crossed from several disorders, that's why for ex. the same medication that works for an OCDer doesn't necessarily works off with another OCDer, 'cause each one of them has different symptoms of OCD along with other minor symptoms from other disorders...

For me, for ex., the problems I've got with people might be a combination of OCD & a symptom of schizophrenia called delusions of persecution... Anyway, the main point is you MUST go to a psychiatrist & also read a lot of resources on PC about different conditions to gain general knowledge while you go to a therapist...

As for the money problem, I've got the same problem too, most of my money I spend on medication & I'm still searching for an online therapist ('cause I found no therapists in my country), & I know this is gonna have like maybe 2/3 of my monthly income & I'll have to make my own personal economic austerity measures to get along... But on the other hand, my life is deteriorating 'cause of my mental illness, so if I don't work on getting proper therapy & medication, I might end up having no life at all, rather than having no money...

In other words, if your mental condition is negatively affecting your happiness, you might think of the money you spend on treatment as buying happiness & well-being ^_^

Hope you find your therapist, nushi
What you say is so true : spending the money on treatment WILL be like buying happiness & well-being. THank you for stating it like that
It's horrible having the type of symptoms that we have, and I often wonder why I wasn't allowed to have a normal life.. But, at least there ARE ways to take control of your life and be happy, like you said..

Well, elfina, I also wonder nearly ALL THE TIME why I have to live a miserable obsessive waste of a life like that, while girls all around me are enjoying their times... But then I widen my view & try to think a bit more GLOBALLY or UNIVERSALLY... I find that there are millions of people living miserable lives, even worse than me probably... Children dying of hunger & all kinds of illnesses eating at their tiny bodies, people tortured with cancer & waiting for their looming deaths, people living in war-zones who keep on hiding underground & listening to bomb-shells & F16 fighters hunting for them while we listen to music safely in our homes, & prisoners kept in underground dungeons & being tortured everyday until they die lonely in their solitary cells just 'cause of their different religious/political/racial identities in autocratic states...

Actually, you might find that people who are waiting for their merciful deaths in their tortured lives in this world ACTUALLY MIGHT OUTNUMBER people who enjoy their lives #_# Why do you think all those sufferings?!

I strongly believe that God is Just, & he created all this suffering in life for some, while others have normal lives, for a reason... He's testing us & testing our strength of belief in Him & in His Justice, so if we succeed He will greatly compensate all our suffering for much greater enjoyment & rest later in life, or if not in this life, then He will award us with unimaginable enjoyment & peacefulness in the after-life, only if we keep on holding on, believing, & perseveringly fighting against all suffering in this world... I know it's much easier to give in & not believe in God or Justice or after-life & just keep on suffering & hating the whole world for it! But then... without belief, we would have no reason to live for...

Nushi, that was very insightful, thank you!
Don't get me wrong, I do believe in God and as a matter of fact, I was having a conversation with him last night about almost exactly what you posted here!

I don't know, that's why I thought maybe I"m just a narcissist... cause I'm not actually that bad off, if you consider what suffering so many other people have to go through. Maybe I'm just an attention seeker? Although, I wish I was in control of my thoughts in that way, because I don't understand why my mind would "make these thoughts up"...

But, anyway, I do believe. And thank you for reminding me of God's intentions makes things a bit better

No elfina, I don't think you're a narcissist or a self-attention seeker... You have a mental disorder, & I have one too, & this is some kind of suffering nonetheless. Actually, I even think it's more suffering than body illnesses (except for cancer that is )...

Don't underestimate your condition, read a lot about it, & seek its proper treatment, & stand by & support others like you & also those worse-off, which I consider to be part of the treatment for the mind & soul as well, like posting & sharing in these forums too :*)

& try to enjoy your life however you can... & keep believing in God & your potential to treat yourself & others too ♥

after rereading your post, it could be OCD... when you say that sometimes, you are fine and the thoughts don't even come, that made me take notice. see the thing with OCD is that it can come and go in a heartbeat. One day it will be so triggering, and the next day, it will switch on you into a new obsession. I would watch for that...

but what you are describing also sounds like paranoia to me. Or generalized anxiety. Again, as before, seeing a psychologist is based on how much it is affecting your everyday life. But it wouldn't hurt to get checked out anyway, if not to dx you, then to rule out posible disorders... best of luck!

OCD is characterized by performing rituals/impulses to exterminate anxiety, fear and apprehension from obsessions (in this case your thoughts of unfair persecution).. so, what exactly are you doing to exterminate these fears besides becoming distant and suspicious of others?

POCD (purely obsessional OCD) might fit your description if you honestly think it has something to do with OCD.

I don't think it's narcissism for *****. It's a paranoia trait.

Anyway, this could be anything from paranoia (deep-rooted or drug-induced, your call), anxiety or classic low self-esteem because people have ****ed you over numerous times and you were helpless.. or you have a 6th sense and you actually are being plotted on.

You say you go through periods where it is basically a remission where you don't have those symptoms, could that have something to do with being in contact with not so many people lately hence the lower chance of thinking you're being unfairly persecuted? Are they are at ease when you don't consume drugs or caffeine (if you are a user of them)?

I don't think you are elaborating enough to get the answer you are looking for,
I very much doubt it's OCD or narc.

Edit:
POCD is associated strongly with mental rumination,
example off Wikipedia:
"For example, an intrusive thought "I could just kill Bill with this steak knife" is followed by a catastrophic misinterpretation of the thought, i.e. "How could I have such a thought? Deep down, I must be a psychopath." - does this seem to relate to your and your belief of being a narc?
Take a read of POCD: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purely_Obsessional_OCD