OCD is a mental health disorder that happens when people find themselves in a cycle of obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. Although having obsessive thoughts and compulsive behavior can be quite normal, the D in OCD implies this has become disordered. Or in other words, it is taking too much time and energy that it changes who we are and what we do in the world. It also means there is a layer of distress, of anxiety in the pattern. People talk about “having OCD” when they want things a certain way or when they have a drive for perfection, and this can be quite adaptive and supportive, but it can also cross a line and become impossible to maintain, which is when OCD manifests.

Let’s look more deeply into obsessive thoughts and compulsive behavior;

Obsession means to be continuously preoccupied with an idea or a person. Normal obsession can happen when you have an idea in your mind, a song stuck, or even when we fall in love. Obsession takes a harrowing turn when we cannot turn it off when the thoughts are so intrusive that we cannot go on with our life. The content of the obsession; what are you obsessed about? Can also give us clues as to how serious the condition can be.

Common obsessive themes are:

• Contamination and dirt – Quite prevalent during these COVID times
• Doubts about locking doors or being judged
• Need for symmetry

Compulsions are repetitive behaviors that a person HAS to complete to neutralize or disempower the obsessive thoughts. Behaviors like knocking three times on the door before leaving the house to be safe, but this is a MUST; I cannot leave my house unless I complete the behavior. The behavior is meant to help reduce the anxiety caused by the obsessive thought, but it is a short-term solution. Often these behaviors become rituals without which people believe they cannot live.

Common compulsive behaviors:

• Washing and cleaning
• Checking
• Extreme order
• Need for constant reassurance

The pattern between obsession and compulsive behavior often leads to shame, which only makes things worse.

Actually, treatment for OCD is quite effective. A combination of art therapy and CBT has shown to be quite effective. CBT has developed incredible tools to support people who go through OCD. Art therapy helps find words and access parts of the brain that are difficult through traditional psychotherapy. Art becomes a new language to explore the meaning of symbols and rituals, and by having more understanding the pattern is disempowered. In art therapy, people are doing, creating, which is the same mechanism as OCD, there is behavior in session, and the goal is to replace the challenging behavior with consciousness.

OCD can happen to anyone. If you know someone struggling with OCD, be compassionate, take their symptoms seriously (they are not quirks) and, encourage them to get treated. Remember, they often do not know why they do what they do.