Get to know OCD

Nathan Fielder's Show The Rehearsal Is Exactly How OCD Works

What does Nathan Fielder's The Rehearsal have to do with OCD? More than you might think. The HBO series takes preparing for uncomfortable situations to ridiculous extreme

How Relationship OCD Can Ruin A Good Relationship

Is something actually wrong with your relationship, or is OCD making you question everything? Maybe you're constantly wondering whether you've found the right person, com

My Brother Had OCD, So I Became The “Easy Child”

When Austin Kang's older brother began struggling with severe OCD, the entire family's attention shifted toward helping him. Austin was still in middle school, but he dec

How The Cornell Seven Case Is Triggering People With OCD

The Cornell Seven sexual assault allegations have dominated headlines, but for some people with OCD, the story is triggering an entirely different kind of fear. What if s

You Might Be Doing OCD Therapy Wrong Without Knowing It

What happens when you try exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy, do everything you're told, and still don't get better? You might be facing your fears without re

I Applied to NOCD Twice. Here’s What Changed the Second Time

Shanna Chappell was working in private investment research by day and volunteering as a therapist outside of work. She knew which career she wanted to pursue, but getting

I Turned My Scariest OCD Thoughts Into Art

Mia Mason spent most of her life worrying that she was secretly a terrible person. What if she hurt someone? What if she did something wrong? What if the thoughts she cou

Rainn Wilson and Howie Mandel set the record straight on OCD

Rainn Wilson describes his intrusive thoughts as “a shoe in the dryer”—relentless, loud, and impossible to ignore. Howie Mandel can relate. Both entertainers live with O

Rainn Wilson’s OCD kept him trapped in his thoughts. Here’s how he found peace

Being particular is nothing like actually having OCD—and Rainn Wilson would know. The actor famous for playing Dwight Schrute on The Office gets real about his own experi

My Intrusive Thoughts Don’t Scare Me Anymore. Is That Bad?

You’ve spent so long being terrified by your intrusive thoughts. Then treatment starts working, the fear fades, and OCD finds a new question to throw at you: If these tho

Should You Give In To OCD On A Bad Day?

Bad OCD days are going to happen. Sometimes the thoughts feel more real, the anxiety is harder to shake, and resisting compulsions suddenly feels a lot harder than it did

You Know Your OCD Makes No Sense. So Why Does It Feel So Real?

You know the fear doesn’t make sense. You’ve gone over the facts, reassured yourself, and tried to reason your way out of it — but OCD still leaves you with the same ques

Why Your OCD Keeps Changing Themes

You finally start getting a handle on one OCD fear — and then suddenly it latches onto something completely different. The thoughts may change from contamination to drivi

I Was A Therapist For 20 Years Before I Truly Understood OCD

Shawn Welty had worked in mental health for nearly 20 years — in schools, community mental health, trauma care, substance abuse, and more. But when he finally received sp

I Had Severe OCD. Now I Don’t Fear It At All

Shannon Shy was a Marine Corps officer when OCD became so severe that nearly every waking minute was consumed by obsessions and compulsions. He hid what was happening for

OCD Vs. Autism: How Can You Tell The Difference?

OCD and autism can look surprisingly similar from the outside, especially when it comes to rigid routines and repetitive behaviors. But the reason behind the behavior can

Is It Hoarding… Or OCD?

What's the difference between hoarding and OCD? Imagine two people who both refuse to throw away the same old birthday card. One keeps it because it holds a memory they’r

I’ve Treated OCD For 27 Years. Here’s What I’ve Learned

Dr. Patrick McGrath has been treating OCD for nearly 27 years, and there are still parts of the job that never get easier. He’s watched people suffer for years without th

I’m A Psychologist And I Still Didn’t Know I Had OCD

Santina Cilento works as a school psychologist, so she knew what OCD was. What she didn’t realize was that she had been living with it herself for years. The rigid rules,

Why OCD Makes You Question Your Own Memories

A memory feels a little fuzzy, and suddenly OCD wants an answer. Did that really happen? Did you miss something? Did you do something wrong without realizing it? What sta