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.

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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6 min read
Can Intrusive Thoughts Be Images?

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

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6 min read
3 Practical Steps for Addressing Shame When You Have OCD

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

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4 min read
Can Therapy Cure My OCD? Here’s What It Will Do For You

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

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5 min read
What are OCD Compulsions?

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

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8 min read
The Relationship Between OCD and ADHD

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

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5 min read
What causes OCD symptoms to get worse?

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

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6 min read
How OCD latches onto personal values – A Q&A with Dr. Gillian Alcolado

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

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8 min read
OCD in Teenagers: Understanding the Signs and Getting Support

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

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8 min read
Why Halloween Can Feel Triggering With OCD—And How To Cope

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

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7 min read
Coping Skills That Can Continue the OCD Cycle—and What to do Instead

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

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6 min read
Steps To Break the Reassurance-Seeking Pattern

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

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6 min read
5 Ways that OCD is a Contradiction

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

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4 min read
4 Reasons Why OCD Can Make Your Thoughts Feel So “Sticky”

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

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6 min read
Sleep and OCD: How to Win The Battle for Better Sleep

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

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4 min read
OCD and Alcohol: Does Drinking Actually Make OCD Symptoms Worse?

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

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