Megan Pike, MEd, LPC-Associate (Supervised by Saharah Shrout, LPC-S)
You matter and I’d love to connect with you.
When most people hear the word OCD, they probably think of someone washing their hands over and over, cleaning everything in sight, or needing things to be perfectly organized. And honestly, that’s one of the biggest misunderstandings about OCD. OCD can look like that, but it can also look like something completely different. Sometimes, OCD is invisible.
What Hidden OCD Can Look Like
It can trickle into all aspects of life, not just organization, it can include getting stuck on the same scary thought for hours. It can be constantly wondering, “What if I hurt someone?”, “What if I made a terrible mistake?”, or “What if something is wrong with me?” “What if I did something inappropriate?” It can be replaying conversations in your head, checking your memory, searching Google for reassurance, or asking someone the same question again and again just to feel okay for a few minutes.
And this is exactly what makes OCD so tricky! From the outside, you might not notice anything, and from the outside, no one else may notice either.
When Compulsions Happen in Your Head
Someone with OCD might look completely calm while their mind is running at full speed. Compulsions aren’t always obvious either. They aren’t always washing, cleaning, or checking a lock ten times. Sometimes a compulsion happens entirely in your head. You might mentally review something you said, try to “cancel out” a thought, analyze your feelings, or keep looking for that feeling of certainty that never quite comes.
I think that’s why talking about OCD matters so much.
Intrusive Thoughts Don't Define You
Having intrusive thoughts doesn’t mean someone actually wants those things to happen. Having a thought doesn’t make you a bad person and OCD isn’t simply being particular, organized, or wanting things to be clean. It is so much more complicated than that. OCD can affect relationships, school, work, sleep, confidence, and just your ability to enjoy everyday life and since so much of it can happen privately, people can spend years struggling without anyone realizing what’s going on.
You Don't Have to Struggle Alone
So maybe the next time someone says they have OCD, instead of assuming they’re talking about cleaning or being organized, we can pause and listen. Us at OATH Therapy are good at that, we specialize in this and understand you in ways other therapists won’t. Let me end this by saying, the intrusive thought you're battling, let us help you with it, there isn't much you could say we haven't heard, yet OCD likes to tell you're alone. You don't have to be!
You Don't Have to Navigate OCD Alone
If you're struggling with intrusive thoughts or compulsions that others may not see, you deserve support without judgment. At OATH Therapy, we specialize in OCD and anxiety treatment and understand that OCD can be difficult to explain, especially when much of the struggle happens internally.
Reaching out for help is a meaningful first step. If you'd like to learn more about therapy options, we invite you to connect with OATH Therapy and explore whether our approach may be a good fit for you.
You don't have to figure it out alone.
Contact OATH Therapy to learn more about your options for support.