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I think this is a great question. To me I see it less of reassurance and more of a reminder that I’m not damned to hell because an immoral thought popped in my head. So the thoughts and urges are OCD but my responses to those thoughts and urges are more “me.” Untreated, or before NOCD therapy, I would have said that both the thoughts/urges and the compulsion/response were both me, but I see more nuance now. Thank you for the thought provoking post. I’m curious what others might think.

I feel like its reassurance but im sure ive posted that too!

For me personally at least, knowing that this thoughts ARE pretty much caused by OCD help me on my way of recovery, even if it may be hard to internalise at the beginning. I think some form of assurance for people suffering from OCD is needed, so a reminder like that isn't bad per se. Because really, with some of the themes you can't just simply say that they might be true - we know that they aren't and the disorder is causing our doubts. But seeing these thoughts for what they truly are: a non-existent threat that keeps plaguing our mind, causing to engage in compulsions because well, we are trying to solve something that's not there, is really helpful. "Maybe, maybe not" works, but I feel like instead of accepting that you may be your fear, this excercise is meant to rather make these thoughts seems as unimportant.

Hi anon, I believe anything can be reassurance yet depends on the person how they would intake and make actions on it. OCD does require awareness so sometimes it causes one to seek out alternative perspectives in order to gain more information to realize it is a common barrier to help self identify. So there's assurance which is gaining info to get new terminology and parameters to see if it aligns with ones struggles, accomplishment, and values to then be able to make one's own conclusion what parts to learn and keep or omit. Reassurance is asking the same question or thought despite having an answer to oneself or getting answers already. Example "What makes this OCD" helps gain facts yet relies on the poster to decide which facts is relevant such as maybe it is OCD but it's more about perfection OCD yet not as much about relationship OCD, then continue to sit with that emotion with less confusion being stuck on what they were even feeling. The other example is "what if it's me? I know i keep asking but I want to know more" this is seeking all or continuous facts and opinions externally without no real stopping point boundary being established. It's okay to get assured, just people with OCD has to work a little harder to be cautious and aware if they are offsetting to rely on the dopamine to ignore feelings and chase comfort versus gaining perspective that may give some relief yet continue to face their fears. OCD may be a part of your habits but not you if it makes sense. OCD can act like a friend that cares but isn't a good friend. It's a duality of having both the knowledge and reminder of the practice it's from you yet a disordered moment of you.

This is definitely reassurance! I try to comment something closer to, "Maybe this is OCD, maybe it's not. You'll be okay either way."

Thanks for a thought-provoking post! I think “it’s just OCD” is helpful when people are spiraling about not whether it’s OCD or not, but when they are stuck in a loop and don’t realize it. For example, should I confess XYZ or not? That’s not the right question. Trying to get someone to realize that they’re trying to solve a problem that isn’t solvable, that their ruminating about whether to confess or not IS the problem. But yeah, posts where we’re being asked if it’s OCD or not and we tell them it’s just OCD, I’d say that’s giving reassurance. I mean, really, we’d have to report 50% or more of posts on here for reassurance-seeking. But this community has a lot of empathy. We know how lonely and scary and isolating it can be and when people reach out, we try to respond. And some people are just figuring out they have OCD and don’t understand that they’re asking for reassurance. It seems they come here to know they’re not alone and that someone understands them. We’re walking this fine line between making sure people feel heard and not enabling their OCD.