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.

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

Sometimes, Halloween isn’t all candy and costumes. This time of year can bring about a sense of dread and anxiety for many people, including some people

By Stacy Quick, LPC

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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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10 min read
6 Common Fears That Keep People With OCD From Seeking Help

Getting the right treatment for OCD can be transformative for many, but deciding to start on your recovery journey is often filled with many individual

By Stacy Quick, LPC

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8 min read
5 Ways LGBTQIA+ Folks Can Face Harm in the OCD Community (and what we can do about it)

This is a guest post by Alegra Kastens, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who founded the Center for OCD, Anxiety, and Eating Disorders. We live in

By Alegra Kastens, M.A., LMFT

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5 min read
5 Everyday Tasks That Can Be Difficult with OCD

This is a guest post by Alegra Kastens, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who founded the Center for OCD, Anxiety, and Eating Disorders. Obsessive

By Alegra Kastens, M.A., LMFT

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5 min read
Dealing with Confusing Emotions During OCD Spikes

OCD is primarily associated with anxiety and high levels of distress, but it can also lead to confusion about one’s emotions. A large part of OCD is

By Stacy Quick, LPC

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4 min read
How Rumination Reinforces OCD Symptoms—And Makes Them Worse

Rumination is a word that’s used somewhat often, and most of the time it has nothing to do with a mental health condition. It’s the act of repeatedly

By Stacy Quick, LPC

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6 min read
Why managing OCD means managing your emotions

It is not uncommon during my first encounter with a member to have them state that if they could just get rid of their distressing thoughts they would be

By Stacy Quick, LPC

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7 min read
How I learned to cope with missed experiences from OCD

Experiencing any type of mental health condition can have devastating impacts on you and those around you. It can change your worldview, how you function,

By Stacy Quick, LPC

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6 min read
Debunking 5 Common Myths About OCD 

We all know by now that not everything we read on the internet is correct. Misinformation surrounding mental health conditions is rampant and can have

By Stacy Quick, LPC

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4 min read
The Connection Between Impulsive Behaviors and Compulsions in OCD

Impulse control refers to resisting or inhibiting an impulsive urge or behavior. It is the ability to regulate your emotions and desires so that you can

By Stacy Quick, LPC

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