OCD: Understanding Symptoms and Learning to Live Again
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a widely misunderstood mental health condition, often caricatured in media or misrepresented in casual conversation. It’s frequently reduced to a personality quirk for someone who’s organized, detail-oriented, or a “perfectionist.” This is misguided and the perception is harmful. OCD is far more complex and emotionally demanding than personality quirks. Like all mental health diagnoses, it deserves to be met with awareness, empathy, and informed care.
So, what exactly is OCD?
Understanding OCD: Beyond the Stereotypes
OCD is characterized by two key components:
Obsessions: Unwanted, intrusive thoughts or images that are often distressing and difficult, if not impossible, to control.
Compulsions: Behaviors or mental rituals performed in an attempt to reduce the anxiety caused by obsessions.
. When people have obsessions without compulsions, this is referred to as “Pure O”.
What Causes OCD?
The exact cause of OCD is still not fully understood. Current research points to a combination of genetic, neurological, and environmental factors. In the field of psychotherapy, there is growing recognition of how childhood trauma, neglect, or adverse experiences may contribute to the development of OCD in some individuals.
OCD Themes: More Than Hand Washing and Light Switches
You may be familiar with OCD in the context of repetitive hand washing or checking light switches. But OCD can manifest through a wide variety of themes, each with its own set of fears and rituals. Here are just a few:
Contamination OCD: Fear of germs or illness, often leading to excessive cleaning or avoidance.
Harm OCD: Intrusive thoughts about hurting oneself or others—without any desire or intention to act on them—leading to deep shame and confusion.
Relationship OCD (ROCD): Obsessive doubt about one's partner or relationship, sometimes overlapping with anxious attachment patterns.
Religious or Scrupulosity OCD: Fear of moral or spiritual failure, such as committing an unpardonable sin, leading to compulsive praying, self-punishment, or rigid religious rituals.
These are just a few examples. The emotional toll of OCD is profound, often accompanied by shame, anxiety, guilt, and social withdrawal. It can significantly affect relationships, academic or job performance, and overall quality of life.
Treatment and Healing
The good news? OCD is treatable.
Several therapeutic modalities and medications have been shown to be effective in reducing symptoms and improving functioning. At Olive and Ember Therapy, when working with individuals presenting with OCD, my first goal is to build compassion this is done by creating a space where clients can begin to feel safe in their own skin, even if just for the therapy hour.
From there, I integrate a number of therapeutic approaches based on each person’s needs:
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Helps clients learn to tolerate distressing thoughts and emotions without trying to control or avoid them.
Internal Family Systems (IFS): Especially helpful when OCD symptoms are rooted in early trauma, IFS works to heal and unburden the internal parts of the self that carry pain.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP): A core component of evidence-based OCD treatment, ERP involves gradually facing feared thoughts or situations while resisting the urge to engage in compulsions.
Next Steps
If you or someone you care about is living with OCD, know this: you are not alone, and help is available.
Treatment can reduce suffering and help you build a life that is no longer ruled by fear and compulsion. If you're curious whether therapy at Olive and Ember Therapy is a good next step for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to support you.
Resources: What causes OCD?. International OCD Foundation. (2025, April 22). https://iocdf.org/about-ocd/what-causes-ocd/