What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?

We have all seen it before – a social media friend posts a picture of their perfectly color-coded closet. Their pantry is organized into matching containers. Every towel is folded exactly the same way. The caption reads: “#OCD.”

Or maybe you’ve seen someone look at a crooked picture frame or a stack of papers that isn’t perfectly straight and joke, “My OCD is going so crazy right now.” Most of us have laughed, nodded, or kept scrolling without thinking much about it.

But what if OCD is actually something completely different? What if the person silently battling Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder has a messy closet, an overflowing laundry basket, and a mind that never gives them a moment of peace?

The truth is that OCD has little to do with being neat, organized, or particular. It is a disorder driven by fear. It is a disorder built on uncertainty. And for those living with it, it can feel like you are battling a monster on steroids every single day.

Why OCD Thoughts Cause So Much Distress

One of the most difficult parts of OCD is that people often mistake intrusive thoughts for who they are.

An intrusive thought is exactly what it sounds like: an unwanted thought, image, or urge that repeatedly barges into your mind without your permission. These thoughts are distressing because they are the exact thoughts you do not want to have. If you could snap your fingers and make them disappear forever, you would.

Ironically, the harder you try to force them away, argue with them, or prove they are not true, the longer they tend to stick around. This is one of the reasons OCD is so exhausting. These types of thoughts are often referred to as “sticky thoughts” (also referred to as obsessions).

Everyone experiences random intrusive thoughts from time to time. A person who isn’t battling OCD may briefly notice the thought and move on with their day. Their brain simply lets it pass.

But someone dealing with OCD tends to get stuck. The thought lingers, replaying over and over. It may stay for hours or even days, demanding attention and creating tremendous anxiety. The brain becomes convinced that the thought must mean something important simply because it won’t leave.

People might think:

“What if I secretly want this?”
“What if this thought means something about me?”
“What if God is trying to tell me something?”
“What if everyone else is safe except me?”

However, the opposite is usually true. OCD likes to attack what matters most to us. A loving mother may develop terrifying thoughts about accidentally harming her child. A devoted Christian might become consumed with fears that they have committed an unforgivable sin or will in the future.

A compassionate person may become terrified that they could harm someone else, or even themselves, despite desperately not wanting to. Someone who deeply values honesty becomes trapped wondering if they lied without realizing it.

Deep down, people battling with OCD might even recognize that these thoughts are attacking the values they hold most dear. If a thought fills you with fear because it goes completely against who you are and what you believe, that is often evidence that it is not something you actually want to do. OCD doesn’t reveal your character. Instead, it attacks your values.

Could I be dealing with OCD?

If you’ve been reading this article and wondering whether this could apply to you, here are some common symptoms of OCD.

OCD may be the culprit if you:

• Experience recurring intrusive thoughts, images, or urges that feel unwanted and distressing.
• Spend a significant amount of time trying to figure out what your thoughts mean.
• Constantly seek reassurance from others that everything is okay.
• Feel driven to check, repeat, confess, avoid, or perform mental rituals to reduce anxiety.
• Feel temporary relief after completing a compulsion, only to have the fear return later.
• Find yourself avoiding people, places, objects, or situations that trigger intrusive thoughts.
• Spend an hour or more each day consumed by obsessive thoughts or compulsive behaviors.
• Notice that the anxiety is interfering with your work, relationships, parenting, school, or ability to enjoy life.

It is important to remember that everyone experiences intrusive thoughts from time to time. Having an intrusive thought does not necessarily mean you are dealing with OCD. The difference is how your brain responds to the thought. For someone who isn’t fighting OCD, the thought usually comes and goes without much attention.

For someone who is facing OCD, the thought can become “sticky.” The brain treats it like an emergency that must be solved immediately. This is where compulsions may develop. But, the more you try to make the thought go away, the stronger it often becomes. This only makes the cycles stronger.

If this cycle sounds familiar, know that you are not alone. OCD affects millions of people, and many go years before receiving an accurate diagnosis because they don’t realize what they’re experiencing has a name.

There is hope

If you recognized yourself in this article, know that OCD is highly treatable. You do not have to stay trapped in the exhausting cycle of obsessions (sticky thoughts) and/or compulsions (behaviors you adopt to relieve the anxiety you feel).

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), a specialized form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), is the gold-standard treatment for OCD. Rather than trying to eliminate intrusive thoughts, ERP helps you change your response to them so they gradually lose their power.

Recovery doesn’t mean you’ll never have another intrusive thought. It means those thoughts no longer control your life.

If you’re struggling with OCD or intrusive thoughts, I’d love to help. Reach out today to schedule an appointment and learn how evidence-based treatment can help you break free from OCD and regain peace.