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.
When you hear the term “intrusive thoughts,” what comes to mind? You might know that intrusive thoughts are one of the most well-known symptoms of
By Stacy Quick, LPC
Shame is a powerful emotion. It’s difficult for anyone to experience, but OCD can take shame even further, making it feel all-encompassing. OCD-related
By Stacy Quick, LPC
When dealing with any mental health disorder, it’s normal to want to know what will “fix” it. The idea of living forever with a condition that has a
By Dr. Keara Valentine
Reviewed by Patrick McGrath, PhD
OCD, or obsessive-compulsive disorder, is a mental health disorder defined by two kinds of symptoms: obsessions and compulsions. You may know about
By Dr. Keara Valentine
Reviewed by Patrick McGrath, PhD
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) share some similar symptoms, which make it difficult for the
By Cody Abramson
Reviewed by Patrick McGrath, PhD
If you’re struggling with OCD, you probably know that the symptoms can fluctuate over time. Maybe you’ve observed a pattern and identified things that
By Stacy Quick, LPC
An exceptionally common experience among tens of millions with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) worldwide, is the way in which the condition latches on
By Grant Stoddard
While OCD can happen at any age, it’s most common for people to be diagnosed in their teenage years and during the transition from high school to college.
By Stacy Quick, LPC
Whether or not you like to celebrate Halloween, it’s a time of year that can bring about a sense of dread and anxiety for many people, including those
By Fjolla Arifi
Reviewed by April Kilduff, MA, LCPC
Anyone who’s dealt with the distress and anxiety of OCD knows how overwhelming it can be. In those moments of distress, it’s natural to turn to coping
By Stacy Quick, LPC
When you feel scared or uncertain, it’s understandable to seek reassurance. We learn from a very young age about the dangers of the world and most of us
By Stacy Quick, LPC
Having OCD can be a paradoxical experience filled with many ironies. The attempts to alleviate the anxiety and discomfort OCD causes instead often create
By Stacy Quick, LPC
Of all the ways OCD can significantly impact and interfere with an individual's daily life, its ability to make intrusive thoughts or obsessions “sticky,”
By Stacy Quick, LPC
Most people experience sleepless nights every once in a while. However, research has shown that those with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have
By Patrick McGrath, PhD
For many people who suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), the feeling of calm and elevated mood they experience when drinking alcohol is a
By Patrick McGrath, PhD
Getting the right treatment for OCD can be transformative for many, but deciding to start on your recovery journey is often filled with many individual
By Stacy Quick, LPC
This is a guest post by Alegra Kastens, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who founded the Center for OCD, Anxiety, and Eating Disorders. We live in
By Alegra Kastens, M.A., LMFT
This is a guest post by Alegra Kastens, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who founded the Center for OCD, Anxiety, and Eating Disorders. Obsessive
By Alegra Kastens, M.A., LMFT
OCD is primarily associated with anxiety and high levels of distress, but it can also lead to confusion about one’s emotions. A large part of OCD is
By Stacy Quick, LPC
Rumination is a word that’s used somewhat often, and most of the time it has nothing to do with a mental health condition. It’s the act of repeatedly
By Stacy Quick, LPC