When most people think of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), they often picture someone who washes their hands repeatedly or constantly checks if the oven is off. While those can be symptoms, OCD can appear in many different—and often surprising—ways.

In my twenty plus years as a psychologist, I’ve seen people exhibit OCD through behaviors like feeling compelled to confess everything, turn lights on and off repeatedly, say goodnight in a specific order, drive home the same way every day, or repeat certain words under their breath when anxious thoughts arise. The list goes on. These behaviors, while they may seem harmless at first, can consume hours of a person’s day and cause overwhelming stress, anxiety, and even impairment in daily life.

OCD affects an estimated 1–3% of people at some point in their lives. The condition is made up of two main parts:

• Obsessions — intrusive, unwanted thoughts or fears that cause distress.
• Compulsions — actions or rituals performed to reduce that distress or prevent something “bad” from happening.

For example, someone might think, “I may have done something terrible” (an obsession), and feel they must confess it to feel better (a compulsion). Or they might think, “Something bad will happen if I don’t say a certain prayer” (an obsession), and then repeat that prayer every time the thought appears (a compulsion).

To complicate the diagnosis further, sometimes people have what is called “Pure O”, that is, it appears as though the person is just having obsessions. However, with the right questions, one can discern that there are often mental compulsions occurring. An example of this might be a person with the thought that something terrible will happen if I don’t say “no, no, no” in my head…

By the time people seek help, they’re often experiencing significant distress. But here’s the encouraging part—OCD is highly treatable, especially when addressed by a clinician trained in evidence-based methods.

At Launch, our clinicians are specifically trained in the gold standard treatment for OCD: Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). ERP helps individuals face their fears gradually and learn to resist the urge to perform compulsions. Medication can also be helpful for many people, often in combination with therapy.

OCD can make people feel isolated or ashamed of their thoughts and behaviors—but shame only strengthens the disorder’s grip. Healing begins when you allow yourself to seek support. With the right treatment and guidance, recovery is absolutely possible.

If you or someone you love is struggling with OCD, remember: you’re not alone, and effective help is within reach.

-Julie Cappella, Psy.D.