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
Is Skin Picking A Sign of OCD? What Experts Say

Picking your skin is not a sure-fire sign of a mental health condition. Many people engage in skin picking behavior from time to time, such as when they

By Dr. Keara Valentine

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6 min read
Why should I sit in discomfort? A therapist’s view

As a therapist, when I first meet someone new for treatment, I start by saying that discomfort and anxiety are just feelings — not unlike any other

By Stacy Quick, LPC

Reviewed by Patrick McGrath, PhD

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7 min read
What it’s like to be a mom living with OCD

As both a mother and a therapist who treats obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), I have been thinking a lot about all the ways in which my OCD has

By Stacy Quick, LPC

Reviewed by Patrick McGrath, PhD

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9 min read
Why is OCD worse when I’m traveling or on vacation?

As we approach the summer, many people with OCD may be planning to travel. Vacation can be a time of great anticipation and joy for many people, a time to

By Stacy Quick, LPC

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6 min read
The Components of a Mental Healthcare Revolution: A Q&A with Demetrios Marousis, Director of Behavioral Health, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield

Rising rates of anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions indicate a pressing need for improved access and quality of behavioral health

By Grant Stoddard

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7 min read
How Social Media Can Trigger OCD and 3 Ways To Respond

Social media has exploded in recent years. It's become a space where opinions are shared, trends are born, and relationships are developed. We’re

By Stacy Quick, LPC

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7 min read
Do I have GAD or OCD? Here’s How You Might Know

Anxiety is worry, nervousness or unease about something that’s on your mind. Everyone worries or feels anxiety at some point in their lives — students on

By Davida Vaughn, M.S., Ed.S., LPC

Reviewed by Patrick McGrath, PhD

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4 min read
Intrusive Thoughts: More Than Just Words (And How To Treat Them)

You hear an awful lot about “intrusive thoughts” as one of the key components of obsessive-compulsive disorder (it’s the “obsessive” part). But did you

By April Kilduff, MA, LCPC

Reviewed by Patrick McGrath, PhD

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6 min read
4 Ways Your Values Can Help You Fight OCD

If someone asked you what your values are, how would you answer? Whether it’s compassion, honesty, loyalty, or kindness, our values are a fundamental

By Stacy Quick, LPC

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7 min read
3 Strategies to Manage OCD and Panic Attacks in Daily Life

A quickening pulse, rapid breathing, spiraling thoughts—a panic attack can be intense, both mentally and physically. The sudden feelings of fear and

By Stacy Quick, LPC

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5 min read
Why Does Winter Make My OCD Worse?

Shorter days, colder weather, and cloudy skies can all lead to a drop in a person’s mood or energy level and for people with OCD, they may also lead to an

By Stacy Quick, LPC

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8 min read
OCD and Social Anxiety Disorder: Are They Related?

“I shouldn’t have said that…now everyone’s probably judging me.” “They’re looking at me. Do I have something in my teeth?” “I’m going to say I feel sick

By Stacy Quick, LPC

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6 min read
3 Steps to Overcoming OCD-Related Loneliness

Have you ever felt like you were all alone in your struggles with OCD? Like the intrusive thoughts or compulsions you were experiencing were too shameful

By Stacy Quick, LPC

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8 min read
Feeling “Stuck” in the Past: OCD and False Memories

If your memories are the story of your life, you can think of OCD as an uninvited co-author. While almost everyone questions their memories from time to

By Stacy Quick, LPC

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7 min read
Understanding Urges in OCD

Intrusive thoughts can feel overwhelming and anxiety-provoking under any circumstances, but especially when they revolve around doing something you don’t

By Stacy Quick, LPC

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10 min read
3 Ways Untreated OCD Can Impact Daily Life

There’s no question that untreated OCD can have a profound impact on a person’s life. Symptoms of the condition can be exhausting to manage. The distress

By Stacy Quick, LPC

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4 min read
5 Must-Read Books for People Struggling with OCD

Living with untreated OCD can be brutal. You wake up in the morning, begin obsessing immediately, and then go to sleep twelve hours later hoping your next

By Stephen Smith

Reviewed by Patrick McGrath, PhD

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8 min read
Perfectionism vs. OCD: How to Tell the Difference

Consistent self-criticism. A desire for constant structure and organization. A deep fear of making mistakes or falling short of self-imposed or perceived

By Stacy Quick, LPC

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9 min read
OCD and Relationships: Navigating Common Challenges

Sometimes, OCD’s nature to attack what we value the most paints a target on our romantic relationships—and when it does, it can feel especially

By Stacy Quick, LPC

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7 min read
How Connection and Understanding Can Make a Difference in Your OCD Journey

All too often, OCD makes people feel isolated and alone. When you’re facing these feelings, having a support system you can turn to makes all the

By Stacy Quick, LPC

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