OCD Awareness Week (October 12–18) is an opportunity to raise understanding and offer hope to those living with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

What OCD Really Is

OCD is more than a preference for order or cleanliness—it’s a mental health condition marked by two key elements:

• Obsessions – persistent, unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that create distress and doubt.
• Compulsions – repetitive private (mental) or public behaviors meant to reduce that distress. Avoidant behaviors may also offer temporary relief.

While some compulsions are visible—like checking or washing—others are completely private, such as replaying events in your mind, silently repeating certain words, or self-reassuring. Because many symptoms are invisible, OCD is often misunderstood or misdiagnosed.

Having anxious thoughts or liking things organized doesn’t necessarily mean you have OCD. The difference lies in how much time, distress, and interference the symptoms cause in daily life.

For people with primarily mental obsessions, it can feel impossible to dismiss a random or disturbing thought. Hours may be spent analyzing its meaning, searching online for reassurance, or mentally replaying scenarios—yet these efforts never quiet OCD. The real struggle lies with uncertainty itself.

In therapy, one early goal is to change your relationship with unwanted thoughts and feelings. Instead of fighting them, you learn to approach them with curiosity and compassion. This mindset shift often marks the turning point toward recovery.

Supporting a Loved One with OCD

If someone you care about is struggling with OCD, you may feel unsure how to help. Here are some ways to make a meaningful difference:

• Encourage professional support. OCD responds best to specialized therapy such as Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT). Encourage your loved one to find a therapist with OCD-specific training.
• Empathize—but don’t enable. You can show understanding without joining rituals or avoiding triggers. That only strengthens OCD’s cycle. Try reflective listening and validation—for example: “Joe, I know this is difficult. It sounds like your OCD mind is demanding a lot from you right now.” Compassion means supporting recovery, not the disorder.
• Celebrate progress. Even small victories—like checking the lock once instead of six times—deserve recognition.
• Be patient. Recovery takes time, effort, and courage for both the person with OCD and their loved ones. Your steady support matters more than you may realize.

Remember Your Mind’s Main Function

Your mind’s top priority is to keep you alive and comfortable. And if OCD is part of your system, your mind may act like a well-meaning but overprotective relative—constantly warning you about possible danger: “Are you sure you didn’t hit someone? You’d better check!” “What if you aren’t forgiven?”“Good moms don’t have those awful thoughts—better confess!”

Ironically, the more you try to fix things (through compulsions or avoidance), the stronger your doubts become. That’s because your mind doesn’t actually know the future—it’s simply offering advice it thinks will help.

Dos and Don’ts for Living with OCD

DO:

1. Find the right provider. Choose a therapist trained in OCD treatment.
2. Name your OCD. Giving it a name helps separate it from your true self.
3. Acknowledge your thoughts. Let them be there without judgment.
4. Focus on what matters most. OCD is only one small piece of your life.
5. Practice uncertainty with compassion. Start small—could you treat uncertainty as gently as a wounded butterfly or puppy?

DON’T:

1. Fight or argue with OCD—it thrives on attention.
2. Ignore it—suppression only makes it louder.
3. Rationalize with it—OCD always demands another answer.
4. Obey it—every compliance strengthens the cycle.

Building a Life Beyond OCD

As you focus more on who and what truly matters, life opens up—and you’ll see that you don’t have to listen to the OCD mind. With the right treatment and support, you can reduce OCD’s grip and regain confidence.

Final Thoughts

At Mindset Family Therapy, we help individuals and families understand OCD and build a path toward recovery. Whether you’re seeking help for yourself or supporting someone you love, know that effective, evidence-based treatment is available—and healing is possible.

If you or someone you care about struggles with unwanted, intrusive thoughts or repetitive behaviors (private or public), reach out. Together, we can help you regain balance, peace, and confidence.

📞 Contact us (801-427-1054) today to learn about OCD therapy options!

By Annabella Hagen

Photos by the IOCD Foundation and Pexels-Landiva Weber