Obsessive compulsive disorder - OCD treatment and therapy from NOCD

Living with OCD

We're creating resources to help people learn about OCD in the many ways it impacts their own lives—not just what it looks like on paper. You can search our resources to determine when your intrusive thoughts may be related to OCD.

6 min read
5 Strategies for Breaking the Cycle of Rumination

Some aspects of OCD might be obvious, even to others. Certain physical compulsions are simply impossible to hide in all situations. But one of the more

By Stacy Quick, LPC

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5 min read
Can OCD make you feel physically sick?

We all know that OCD can be very sneaky. It can latch onto any thought, feeling, or urge that pops into your brain unwanted. But did you also know that it

By Stacy Quick, LPC

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6 min read
Overcoming “realistic” fears in OCD

“But this is different! This could actually happen!” I can’t even attempt to tell you how many times people have told me this in therapy. OCD is always

By Stacy Quick, LPC

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9 min read
What Is ERP Therapy for OCD? This Is How Exposure and Response Prevention Works

Exposure and response prevention, or ERP, is the most commonly recommended, evidence-based form of therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The

By Patrick McGrath, PhD

Reviewed by April Kilduff, MA, LCPC

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7 min read
Can OCD change how you see yourself?

Living with OCD can, sadly, change the way you see the world. OCD forces its own perspective on nearly everything—seeing danger where there is none,

By Stacy Quick, LPC

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5 min read
How to deal with shame and self-criticism from OCD

I think everyone has an “inner critic.” But at a certain point, problems with self-esteem and questions of self-worth can be indicative of mental health

By Stacy Quick, LPC

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6 min read
The Three R’s: Research, Rumination, and Reassurance

When the obsessions of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) strike, it can feel unbearable—time and again, you try to relieve your anxiety and discomfort

By Stacy Quick, LPC

Reviewed by Patrick McGrath, PhD

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5 min read
The “Certainty Trap” in OCD

Have you ever replayed a childhood memory over and over in your mind? Maybe a nostalgic feeling swept over you as you recalled the events of that

By Stacy Quick, LPC

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6 min read
What does OCD feel like?

This question can be answered in a million different ways, to a million different people, yet to truly understand obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), one

By Stacy Quick, LPC

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7 min read
Unspeakable Thoughts: Barriers to OCD Diagnosis and Treatment

The tragedy of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is not its prevalence, even though it affects an estimated 1 in 40 adults worldwide. Nor is it the

By Grant Stoddard

Reviewed by Patrick McGrath, PhD

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9 min read
Depression and OCD: How Are They Related?

Both obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) are common mental health disorders, affecting millions of Americans each

By Dr. Keara Valentine

Reviewed by April Kilduff, MA, LCPC

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5 min read
4 red flags to look out for when seeking advice for OCD

Information on mental health is more accessible than ever. Between social media advocates, blog posts from specialists, and bite-sized clips from

By Tia Wilson

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5 min read
13 online resources to help you learn about OCD—and get better

There are countless reasons you might be looking for more resources on how to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Whether you’re curious about

By Patrick McGrath, PhD

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7 min read
Invisible Illness: Living with a chronic physical illness on top of OCD

“Chronic” is a word I have come to know quite well. I have been diagnosed with not one, but two chronic illnesses that have come to define many of my life

By Jessie B.

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7 min read
What should I do if I feel like I have OCD, but my therapist doesn’t?

A lot of people suffering from OCD have spent countless hours scouring over the internet looking for any resemblance of familiarity in their experiences.

By Stacy Quick, LPC

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5 min read
Can OCD Lead to Bipolar Disorder? The relationship between the conditions

Many people who begin their mental wellness journeys aren’t sure what’s going on. You may feel like you have obsessive thoughts and can identify

By Michael Cahill

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6 min read
If you’re struggling to resist compulsions, try these 5 strategies

Recovery looks different for everyone. Recovery is never linear and there is no set time frame. The key to finding freedom from obsessive compulsive

By Jackie Shapin, LMFT

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6 min read
Can OCD make you afraid of being “canceled”?

Today, social technology impacts us more than ever. Social media can make it feel as if there is no privacy, no way to avoid the watchful eyes of others,

By Stacy Quick, LPC

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6 min read
When OCD makes you afraid to leave your home

Compulsions are also often known as safety-seeking behaviors. OCD makes us feel threatened or afraid, and we engage in compulsions in order to feel safe,

By Stacy Quick, LPC

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3 min read
This Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re on a mission

Every year in May, we come together to recognize Mental Health Awareness (MHA) Month across the US. The understanding and visibility of mental health

By Patrick McGrath, PhD

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