Welcome to
the NOCD Community

I have been treating OCD for 25 years, which started at a postdoctoral fellowship at the St. Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute in the Center for OCD and Anxiety Disorders. I am a member of the Scientific and Clinical Advisory Boards of the International OCD Foundation, and I am a Fellow of the Association for Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies. People who are struggling with their OCD are stuck - they are being tricked by their OCD which triggers their Fight, Flight, or Freeze response. When this occurs, it "feels so real." We have been trained our whole life to believe that when we feel that level of fear we are in danger. OCD can hijack this system and trick people into believing they are in significant danger when, in reality, they are just experiencing a thought, image, or urge. But, it does not just rely on fear. OCD can also use shame, guilt, disgust, and any other emotion necessary to get someone to do a compulsion. I have been known to say this - will you spend the rest of your life next to your tombstone wondering when you will be under it, or will you live your life and arrive at your tombstone on the day of your death and say, "Well, that was fun"? OCD wants you to live in fear, telling you that you can achieve something that is not achievable - certainty. So, instead of living the life you want, you live the life that OCD wants you to live. When people decide that OCD is full of lies, and take that first step toward learning that they can live with what OCD says while not believing what OCD says, they can start to get better. Helping people take that first step is one of the best things I have had the honor to do in my career. What made you take your first step to get the help you need? Or what’s holding you back? Ask me anything!

From the age of 10, I’ve had all kinds of frightening thoughts taking over my mind. Tell me about a disease, and I’d be on WebMD and Discord, researching symptoms because I was afraid I had it. For a while I even walked around with a heart rate monitor, a pulse oximeter, and other equipment, because I was terrified that my heart might beat too fast—and maybe give out. I would tell people, I feel like I’m possessed. Like there’s someone else in the driver’s seat of my brain. It was a lonely life, because I didn’t know anyone else who was struggling with these things the way I was. Now, at 26, I know it wasn’t simple anxiety and that I have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), though I didn’t get the right diagnosis for many years—after all, my experiences didn’t match the symptoms most people associate with the condition. But my diagnosis is what changed everything. It allowed me to find the treatment I needed to thrive with OCD. Something I used to hear a lot when I shared my fears was that I was really creative. I’d tell my family about my thoughts and they would say, ‘Oh, you have such a big imagination.’ I have to say: man, that was not it. I had a disorder. I connected with NOCD, and my life changed. My NOCD Therapist explained these weird thoughts and superstitions weren’t me —they were symptoms of OCD, and they didn’t mean anything about who I am. That was a revelation. I spent a really long time not understanding what intrusive thoughts were. I didn’t even know the term ‘intrusive thoughts.’ But at NOCD I was learning that I’m not in control of every thought that I have. This was so pivotal to managing my OCD, learning that you can’t control everything that enters your mind—you can only change your reaction. I’d love to hear about your experiences with Health OCD. Drop your stories and questions below. I’ll respond live in the comments today at 4pm CT!

im going to be vague here, but basically i did something in the past that i regret and it became a huge point of my OCD but i have talked to my therapist and i have mostly moved past it. i watched a video by an OCD youtuber that really put it into perspective. anyway, i have been with minimal worry for a few days, but now im having worries related to i think false memory? basically it’s like “oh but what if i said/ did this and just forgot that means i harmed this person im a bad person”. to me it sounds like textbook OCD but im just wondering if anyone else has experienced false memory / real event at the same time. i have a really horrible memory which is making it even more stressful. any responses are appreciated!

I’m starting NOCD. I had several years of cbt as a child (well over 20 years ago) and I see a trauma therapist. But now I’ll be seeking further help for OCD and just really scared. CBT wasn’t helpful for me. How has ERP been helpful for you? Do you feel like you’ll finally get your life back? I’m consumed by my obsessions 😢 Would love others feedback if ERP helped you ❤️

Good morning, I have been noticing more and more that I might have OCD. I am currently a student and this is causing me to slack a lot during school. I am a student who has a 504 plan (accommodation for my mental health) and would like to add this app on my 504 due to my school having a no phone policy. My question is, how can this app help me while in school? What are things that can happen during school that might lead me to using this app? I am new to this app and barley finding out that I might have OCD. If any clarification needs to be made on this post please let me know! :)

I am currently attending talk therapy but have never brought up symptoms of OCD. Here are some things that I believe MIGHT be OCD but I’m not sure. - I have a lot of trouble focusing and get distracted by so many things (Constantly wanting to touch things like Buttons, feeling textured things, etc.) - The volume on ANY device can not be at any volume with the number 6 - I can NOT step on cracks - I have to walk an equal amount of steps on both feet or I’ll go crazy - I fear that if I do something I’m not supposed to, something bad is going to happen to me I might sound funny but these things genuinely bother me, your help is appreciated LOL

I don’t know if it’s worth it to keep going. I have so many diagnoses, so little support, and constant struggles with finding the right medication. My immune system is weak, I have multiple deficiencies, and I’m dealing with so many physical health problems on top of severe OCD. It’s just too much. On top of everything, my family treats me so not okay. Every single day is a fight just to keep going—to wake up, to eat, to take care of myself even a little. I’ve lost over ten pounds in the last two weeks from how depressed I’ve been. And instead of support, all I get is blame. My family constantly throws my struggles in my face, calling me selfish, as if I’m choosing this. I am trying so hard to push past all of this. But after five long months of severe OCD, anxiety, depression, panic disorder, and everything else making life unbearable, I am exhausted. And to be called lazy? Selfish? *Worthless*? How am I supposed to keep going when the people around me refuse to see how hard I’m trying? I don’t want this anymore. None of this suffering feels worth it. What am I fighting for just to be treated this way by my own family? To be yelled at for the look on my face, when my face reflects nothing but the stress, panic, and despair I’m drowning in? Am I still supposed to smile for them? This isn’t fair. No one should have to live like this. I don’t deserve to be treated this way, I’m really trying to keep going, but I just want everything to end.

I keep getting these groinal responses when I think about kids or see one and it's really distressing, I only just learned that OCD can make you feel that and it's not actually attraction but it's so hard to remember that and I've seen people talking about accepting uncertainty but I'm so scared to think "maybe it's attraction maybe it's not" instead of "no it's not attraction that's disgusting" and idk what to do

Hi I am Aisha and I am not sure if I have ocd or not but I struggle with thoughts which I don't even know if they r intrusive or if I am thinking about them and they are usually about my family or friends. This time it was about my mom more specifically a sexual thought about my mom and my mind was thinking that this is what I want and when I was analyzing the thought I wasn't sure about my intention which made me feel really bad

Hey yall, having a tough time. I’ve been struggling with intrusive thoughts while I self pleasure and it GENUIENLY feels like I enjoy them for whatever reason. And then now about half an hour later it’s like okay it’s a sexual thought but I might not actually like it. Idk I just really hate myself, because I basically genuinely liked it in the moment

I’m so stressed, my mind is always telling me to recheck my messages that I sent because what if I said something racist, inappropriate or mean to the person I was messaging. Or what if I post something inappropriate or rude, the only way I can somewhat cope is by logging out of my socials every night. But even that is a long progress. Like I have to make sure to read every message I sent and that it’s safe for me to leave it for the night. And if it doesn’t feel right I have to log back in over and over until it looks and feels good to me. I’m so exhausted lol:,)

Hi, I’m new to this app and newly diagnosed. Question for you all, What things did you normalize and do without a second thought that when diagnosed, you realized was actually your OCD? Mine was how concerned with germs I am. I hold my breath when I open a door so the rush of wind doesn’t infect my lungs from whatever is in the room. I thought everyone was really careful and concerned like me. But Ive learned it’s not normal the lengths I go to. What was yours?

A huge thank you to everyone. I am new to the app. I’m 28 years old and only recently discovered that my thoughts are a result of my OCD. It’s been so reassuring to hear other people managing the same thoughts I’ve been having.

Any ideaa,on how to mire consistantly get motivated with dealing with my ocd and depressuon??? Some days I get more accomplushed and then many other days I cannot sçeep at night so I am up till 3am or later and tben djring the day I am dragging and oxten have to sleep a bit. I most my best friend....who I always,confided in. She knew all about my ocd and,luztened when I needed to talk and was happyxor me when I made accimplishments! My whole world has,tyrned upside down withthis,loss and it has made me mire,depressed and,dealing with ocd has been harder most ofren. Thanks in advance for any ideas you mught have.

This list by ai gives a good summary of my symptoms. Does it resemble OCD or is it something else? 1. Compulsions (OCD-specific behaviors): • Feeling the need to flex or contract muscles an even number of times, equally on both sides of your body. • Needing to reverse actions (for example, if you roll your eyes or trace a line with your finger, you feel compelled to do it again in the exact opposite way). 2. Intrusive Thoughts (OCD-specific ruminations): • Daydreaming about people you care about getting hurt (e.g., school shooting, injury, or kidnapping). • Sometimes feeling like you might want something bad to happen to someone you find attractive—possibly because of a desire to help or save them, though it’s confusing. • These thoughts can sometimes provide a twisted sense of relief while remaining distressing and confusing. 3. Sexual Orientation OCD: • Experiencing confusion or doubt about your sexual orientation. 4. Contamination Thoughts: • Feeling like things are contaminated, especially after touching something gross. 5. Sensory Compulsions: • Feeling the need to smell your hand after touching areas like your ear or hair. 6. ADHD-like Symptoms / Additional Observations: • Fidgeting or moving your legs when standing or sitting.

I’ve started ERP therapy with a really great therapist, and I haven’t gave into my compulsions but I still have anxiety and yesterday my brain was telling me that people were zombies😭 is this normal?

Hello everyone. Does anyone have any tips on how to forget something more quick? I read some nasty things as a kid and I remembered it a few months ago. I considered doing bad things to myself when I remembered. I just want to forget that I read this.

So I’m always telling people who say I’m not getting any help or advice on my post that maybe those people just don’t know what to say or they’re afraid of possibly making the situation worse… well while that is completely understandable I feel like the amount of help/advice/ interaction has went down drastically on this app.. again not complaining I’m thankful for everyone on here but I just wanted to know if others have felt the same way

So hard to not engage the thoughts because even though it's from the "past" (i don't even know if im remembering things correctly and it kills me) and i can't change it, I just NEED to prove it to myself that it didn't happen this way. If you'd asked me questions maybe a few months ago, I would have been able to lucidly explain things. Now I just feel like I'm in a constant swarm of thoughts, not knowing if anything is real. If my brain is to be trusted. Wish I could just get hypnosis to forget

Anyone else with HOCD get thoughts of like "people in denial try to distract themselves" or anything along those lines when just trying to move on from the thoughts. Having a pretty bad episode this morning at least anxiety wise.