- User type
- Staff
- Date posted
- 23d
When “evidence” is actually OCD in disguise
OCD is convincing. Intrusive thoughts, images, and urges can be so vivid that they feel real. And when they’re accompanied by intense emotions or bodily sensations, they can even seem like evidence of your true desires or intentions—even though they’re not. Maybe you finally start feeling less anxious about a thought that used to horrify you, and then OCD says, “Since you’re not disturbed anymore, this must be who you really are.” Or, your intrusive thoughts start showing up as commands instead of questions, making you fear they’re actually things you want to do. These experiences can feel confusing and terrifying, but they don’t mean what OCD says they mean. In this new article, Alegra Kastens, LMFT, an OCD therapist who has OCD herself, explains why OCD is “the world’s biggest gaslighter,” and how you can learn to see through its lies. Read about five things that can feel like evidence for OCD, and why they’re not, from NOCD Partner Alegra Kastens, LMFT.
