Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is characterized by intrusive thoughts causing distress and repetitive behaviors that a person feels they must do to relieve their distress. It causes someone to live in accordance with their obsessions and compulsions, instead of accepting natural changes and uncertainties that they encounter.
For example, a common obsession is cleanliness and the associated compulsion is the need to clean to achieve a clean space. Where the average person may accept that they can’t get every spot off of their floor, someone with OCD may spend hours relentlessly scrubbing at the tile to ensure that it is spotless.
“As human beings, we want to know that we’re safe, that we’ve made the right decision, that we haven’t done something wrong, and that everything is going to be okay,” said Gregory Cooke, M.Ed., a therapist with Acenda’s Keeping Families Together program. “OCD takes those normal desires and pushes them to an extreme, convincing us that we need to find a definitive answer, check one more time, or seek reassurance from others before we can move on. The problem is that life doesn’t offer absolute certainty, and the harder we try to achieve it, the more OCD keeps us trapped in the cycle.”
In honor of National OCD Awareness Month, Cooke and Morgan Maccarone, B.A., Acenda’s Growth Marketing Coordinator, offer some insight into both the clinical and personal sides of recognizing, treating and living with OCD.
Common Misconceptions About OCD
OCD is often associated with an obsession with cleanliness or tidiness. However, there are many other ways the disorder can present itself.
“For me, when OCD has involved cleanliness, it hasn’t been about having a spotless house,” Maccarone said. “There was a time when I washed my hands so often that they became cracked and dry because I was terrified of getting sick or getting someone I loved sick. I would wash them, then feel like I had to do it again because maybe I hadn’t done it right or had accidentally touched the faucet.”
Cooke said that someone with OCD may even feel the compulsion to drive around the block to ensure that the pothole they just hit wasn’t a pedestrian, followed by weeks of ruminating on the topic by checking news reports or police notices about a hit-and-run.
While these misconceptions may seem trivial, they can have a real impact on those who do struggle with OCD regularly.
Maccarone said, “I don’t think people always realize what they’re saying when they use ‘I’m so OCD’ casually. But it’s difficult to hear when you’ve experienced the fear behind something that might look like simply being clean or particular. OCD isn’t a personality trait. I am not OCD. I live with OCD.”
Getting Treatment
Taking the first step toward treatment can be challenging, especially if you don’t know how to identify what you are struggling with. For Maccarone, she noticed that she was feeling particularly anxious and paranoid in her junior year of college, which affected her grades, and her ability to sleep and focus in class.
“My primary doctor suggested I contact my college’s wellness center about therapy,” Maccarone said. “I didn’t go into that first appointment thinking I had OCD. It was through that process, learning about other people’s experiences, and receiving a thorough assessment that I was officially diagnosed. That was when I realized I had been experiencing these symptoms for much of my life.”
Treatment for OCD can involve Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). For those whose OCD doesn’t respond to counseling alone, there are medications that can be prescribed to work with other forms of treatment.
“Getting treatment has made such a difference in my life,” Maccarone said. “I get emotional thinking about it because there was a time when I thought I would never be able to live a normal life. Every day isn’t perfect, and I still live with OCD, but I can manage it now.”
The hardest part of having OCD is often learning to live with uncertainty without acting on compulsions, because the more you work to eliminate the uncertainty, the more your brain associates it with danger.
Cooke said, “Instead of following your thoughts down the spiral, you can say, ‘Maybe, but maybe not. I don’t need to figure this out right now!’ And rather than waiting until you feel completely comfortable, continue with your day. Spend time with loved ones, do your work, and pursue your interests — even if some uncertainty remains!”
Dealing with Compulsions
When a compulsion or intrusive thought hits, it can be difficult to figure out how to push it aside and move forward. Instead of immediately addressing the thought to ease your own discomfort, many therapists will recommend sitting with your anxiety and questioning it. When you begin to feel a compulsion enter your mind, try asking yourself the following:
- What will actually happen if I ignore this intrusive thought?
- Am I repeatedly checking, researching, seeking reassurance, ruminating on events, or avoiding situations because I can’t tolerate the uncertainty?
- Do I feel temporary relief after doing these things, only to find myself questioning the same issue again?
By recognizing your own patterns and compulsions, you can identify how to target and treat them. In reality, ignoring your intrusive thoughts won’t result in anything and you’ll move on with your day. Challenging the thought and pushing through the discomfort can prove to your mind that your compulsions aren’t protecting you and you don’t have to give in to them.
Supporting a Loved One with OCD
Leaning on your support system as you learn how to live with your OCD can give you the support and encouragement you need in your journey. One trait of OCD that many people struggle with is the need for reassurance. This often appears when someone with OCD is seeking certainty about their anxieties, looking for confirmation that they are okay or that they don’t need to be anxious.
According to Cooke, “Doubt creates anxiety, reassurance reduces it and the brain learns to seek reassurance the next time doubt appears. Instead, you can acknowledge the person’s distress without trying to settle the OCD-related question for them. The distinction is between responding helpfully to a genuine need and repeatedly participating in a ritual designed to eliminate doubt.”
It can be helpful if family and friends are willing to take the time to understand OCD, even if they don’t have personal experience with it. Doing a little bit of research in their free time or taking the time to discuss how best to support someone with OCD can greatly help them when situations come up.
“When I’m struggling, my partner can help me feel calmer and supported without giving me the reassurance that keeps that cycle going,” Maccarone said. “Having someone who understands that difference means a lot to me. Part of your own treatment can include figuring out what type of support best helps you, and it’s even worth asking how you can explain it to your friends and family.”
Moving Forward
Living with OCD can be difficult, but having a better understanding of the disorder and embracing treatment can greatly help you avoid feeling trapped or controlled by your own mind.
“You are not your thoughts, and you are not alone,” Maccarone said. “There was a time when I couldn’t imagine things getting better. I still live with OCD, but it doesn’t define who I am. Treatment is possible, and you deserve support.”
The goal of this blog isn’t to assist in self-diagnosis of OCD. It is to help those who may have OCD, or their loved ones, better understand the disorder and what can help.
“If you suspect OCD is impacting your life, seek an evaluation from a licensed mental health professional with specific experience treating OCD,” Cooke said. “OCD is treatable, and you do not have to wait until your symptoms become unbearable to seek help. You deserve the opportunity to reclaim your time, energy and freedom!”
If you are interested in seeking professional support, reach out to Acenda’s Counseling & Wellness Center today.
Counseling & Wellness CenterAbout the Authors
Morgan Maccarone, B.A., is the Growth Marketing Coordinator at Acenda. She graduated from Rowan University in 2024 with a degree in Liberal Studies and works to promote the agency through social media content, digital marketing and promotional materials. In her free time, Blake loves to hunt for a great thrift find and discover cozy coffee spots!
Gregory Cooke, M.Ed., is a therapist for Acenda’s Keeping Families Together (KFT) program, where he works to support Child Protection and Permanency families seeking safe and permanent housing. He has worked at Acenda since 2024.
Riley de Jong, the Content & Engagement Strategist with Acenda’s Brand, Marketing & Engagement team, attended the University of California – Los Angeles for her undergraduate degree in Communication and minor in Entrepreneurship. She enjoys supporting her community, telling engaging stories, and connecting with others.
