Mental Health
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
About Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by intrusive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions). These obsessions and compulsions can significantly interfere with daily life and cause distress.
Common Symptoms
- Fear of germs or contamination
- Unwanted forbidden or taboo thoughts involving sex or religion
- Aggressive thoughts towards others or self
- A need for things to be symmetrical or in a perfect order
- Excessive cleaning or handwashing
- Compulsively checking things (e.g., locks, appliances)
- Counting rituals
- Arranging things in a specific, precise way
- Repeatedly seeking reassurance
- Hoarding
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of OCD typically involves a comprehensive psychological evaluation conducted by a mental health professional. This evaluation may include a discussion of symptoms, medical history, and how obsessions and compulsions impact daily functioning. There are no laboratory tests to diagnose OCD.
Causes
The exact causes of OCD are not fully understood, but it is believed to involve a combination of genetic, biological, and environmental factors. Brain chemistry imbalances, particularly involving serotonin, and structural differences in certain brain regions are commonly investigated.
Treatment Overview
Management for OCD commonly involves psychotherapy, often a specific type called exposure and response prevention (ERP), which helps individuals gradually confront feared situations without engaging in compulsions. Medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), may also be prescribed to help manage symptoms. Some individuals explore complementary approaches like mindfulness or stress reduction techniques alongside conventional treatments.
Prognosis & Outlook
The prognosis for individuals with OCD can vary, but with appropriate treatment, many people experience significant improvement in their symptoms and quality of life. OCD is often considered a chronic condition, and ongoing management may be necessary for some individuals to maintain symptom control.
Types & Variants
Contamination and Cleaning
Characterized by fears of germs, dirt, or illness, leading to compulsive washing, cleaning, or avoidance of perceived contaminants.
Symmetry and Ordering
Involves a need to have items arranged perfectly or for actions to be performed in a specific, balanced way. This can lead to repetitive arranging and counting.
Harm Obsessions with Checking Compulsions
Involves intrusive thoughts or images of causing harm to oneself or others, leading to checking compulsions to ensure safety (e.g., checking that the stove is off).
Unacceptable Thoughts
Includes obsessions that are often of a religious, sexual, or aggressive nature, which the individual finds morally repugnant. Compulsions are often mental rituals.
What 1 Contributor Has Shared
The contributor primarily struggled with musculoskeletal pain, including hip, back, pelvic, and shoulder pain, which lasted the longest. Other symptoms included foot and wrist pain, neck pain, tinnitus, dry eye, ocular migraines, heat sensitivity, anxiety, panic, depression, health anxiety, heart palpitations, intrusive thoughts, disassociation, skin rashes, numbness, post-viral infection symptoms, tooth pain, and burning mouth.
Initially, medical professionals attributed these symptoms to conditions like arthritis, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, and anxiety. However, the contributor later recognized these structural findings as incidental and not the root cause. A self-diagnosis of Tension Myoneural Syndrome (TMS) / Neuroplastic symptoms was made, which was reassessed and reaffirmed by TMS practitioners after ruling out pathological findings.
“Approaches that were part of my recovery”
As described by story contributors
Discovering the work of Dr. Sarno, Dr. Schubiner, Dr. Hanscom, Dr. Clarke, Dr. Stracks, and Dr. Schechter and reading their books
Pain neuroscience education
Journaling via Nicole Sachs
Pain reprocessing therapy and somatic tracking via Alan Gordon
Addressing belief and doubt
Learning to feel safe with sensations, thoughts, and emotions
Graded exposure teaching the brain the pain is not dangerous
Visualization & graded motor imagery
Leaning into positive sensations
Regulating the nervous system & Polyvagal theory
Indifference & outcome independence
Self compassion
“Approaches I tried that didn't help me”
As described by story contributors
Biomechanical "solutions"
Supplements
Changing diet to anti-inflammatory or keto
Japanese healer
Castor oil
Icing & heat
PT
Chiro
Osteopath
Massage
Acupuncture
Sports medicine doctor with rehabilitation classes
Common Turning Points
Pivotal moments described by story contributors
Discovering what neuroplastic pain was
Self diagnosing with Tension Myoneural Syndrome (TMS) / Neuroplastic symptoms with reassurance from TMS practitioners after ruling out legitimate pathological findings
Key Realizations & “Aha” Moments
Perspectives shared by story contributors
That structural findings (arthritis, degenerative disc disease, etc.) were incidental and not the cause of symptoms
That most chronic pain is neuroplastic in nature, meaning the brain and nervous system can cause debilitating symptoms without tissue damage or disease
Neuroplastic pain is created and maintained by changes and misfirings in the brain’s neural circuits, not physical injury
The brain can "learn" pain through repeated stress or emotional suppression, creating maladaptive neural pathways
Misfiring pain circuits, shaped by emotional states and life stress, cause the brain to perceive pain even when there is no physical cause
Mindbody symptoms often result from stress and nervous system dysregulation, suppressed or unprocessed emotions, learned neural pathways in the brain, and an overactive fear response
Support Systems Contributors Mentioned
Types of support described by story contributors
TMS practitioners
Advice from Those Who've Been There
Suggestions shared by story contributors
- “Understand that most chronic pain is neuroplastic in nature and not necessarily caused by structural issues”
- “Recognize that neuroplastic pain is real but originates in the nervous system and emotional regulation, not tissue damage”
- “Be aware that the brain can "learn" pain through repeated stress or emotional suppression, creating maladaptive neural pathways”
- “Consider that mindbody symptoms, including chronic pain, can result from stress, nervous system dysregulation, suppressed emotions, learned neural pathways, and an overactive fear response”
These insights reflect what individual contributors reported about their own experiences. Results vary — what helps one person may not help another. This is not medical advice.
Stories (1)
Real journeys shared by contributors
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