Behind the glittering facade of celebrity life is a reality more similar to ours, complete with struggles, vulnerabilities, and mental health challenges—including obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). As mental health discussions have become more common, celebrities are increasingly using their platforms to share their own struggles with the condition.
We’re highlighting quotes from 10 celebrities who’ve spoken out about OCD—from chart-topping singer Ariana Grande to TikTok sensation Charli D’Amelio. By speaking openly about their symptoms and experiences, these stars are helping others who might be suffering from OCD in silence feel empowered to seek a diagnosis, proper treatment, and community support.
Powerful celebrity quotes about OCD
Ariana Grande
Singer-songwriter and actor
“I have really bad OCD…[During COVID,] my hands would be cracking because I’d use so much hand sanitizer and I’d be such a germaphobe…I talk to my therapist about it a lot. It goes away when I’m creating and when I’m busy with work…And then when I’m kind of in an off season or in between projects, I’m like, is that thing scary again? Is that thing coming back?”
Madison Beer
Singer-songwriter
“I’ve been diagnosed with pretty gnarly OCD—when you go through these really intense, difficult things, especially early in your life, you look at people and the world very differently.”
Howie Mandel
Comedian and NOCD Partner
“After I impulsively revealed that I have OCD on a talk show, I was devastated…Out in public, after I did the show, people came to me and said, ‘Me, too.’ They were the most comforting words I’ve ever heard. Whatever you’re dealing with in life, know that you’re not alone.”
Whatever you’re dealing with in life, know that you’re not alone.
Howie Mandel
Charli D’Amelio
Social media personality and dancer
“I didn’t get diagnosed with ADHD and OCD until two or three years ago. So it was pretty new. And [I’ve been] learning about what is going on in my brain and what is ADHD, what is OCD, because it’s so different for everyone…[My OCD] is very internal. It’s a lot easier to figure out once you know what’s going on.”
John Green
Author and YouTuber
“I have pretty severe OCD. It’s well-treated…but it is a chronic illness and it is something I live with every day. Sometimes what’s in my head is just a flurry of worries…It becomes like a snowstorm—just absolutely blinding, impossible to see anything other than the fear…It feels like you’re not in control of your own thoughts…That’s quite a scary thing to think about your own self.”
Jenna Ortega
Actor
“I have pretty intense OCD in terms of repetitive thoughts and counting everything multiple times and having to do the same action over and over. Sometimes my nights consist of just being really exhausted and going up and down the stairs six times because that’s what I think I need to do to make sure no one breaks into my home.”
Camilla Cabello
Singer-songwriter
“[My OCD] can look like asking the same question, like ‘What did you mean by that? Are you sure you’re not mad at me? Wait, are you sure you’re not mad at me?’ and doing that over and over…It feels, mentally, like trying to get an answer, or a way of having control or certainty, which is hard because sometimes you just can’t…I get frustrated with the stigma…What if you are just trying to work through the stuff that makes you suffer? Don’t we all want that?”
I didn’t get diagnosed with ADHD and OCD until two or three years ago. So it was pretty new… It’s a lot easier to figure out once you know what’s going on.
Charli D’Amelio
Will Poulter
Actor
“OCD is something I was diagnosed with in my early teens…I was probably 14 when I first started experiencing rumination and intrusive thoughts. Until it was diagnosed and until I received therapy, I just thought I was totally alone with this condition…I was so scared. And that, I think, is the scariest thing about any mental health issue, and you can never underestimate how alone someone can feel…”
Luke Combs
Country singer
“I suffer from really bad OCD…pure OCD, where there are these unanswered questions in your mind that can never be answered…Some people have ‘weird’ thoughts like, ‘Oh that was weird. I just had a thought about jumping into traffic’ and think, ‘That’s just a symptom of my brain.’ People like me become obsessed with the meaning of these thoughts and why they enter our brain when really they don’t mean anything…I wouldn’t wish it on anybody in the entire world.”
Amanda Seyfried
Actor
“I couldn’t sleep at night for a whole summer when I was 13 because I wasn’t talking about my anxieties. And I didn’t know that I could. If I had known that I had OCD, the things I would’ve felt capable of that I didn’t…I didn’t feel like I could talk…I just want my kids to know that they can come to me no matter what. Embarrassed, fearful, anxious, excited, whatever they’re feeling, if they let it out a little bit, it’s liberating.”
Bottom line
These celebrities may experience OCD differently, but their stories share the same crucial message: you are more than OCD, and you are never alone in your journey. Effective treatment for OCD exists—and just like these stars, you can live a fulfilling, successful life defined not by your condition, but by your talents, passions, and contributions.
At NOCD, we’re dedicated to helping you get there with specialized treatment, therapists who truly understand what you’re going through, and a community that supports and uplifts you. Book a free 15-minute call with our team to learn how we can help you manage OCD and pursue the life you deserve.
