As health conditions go, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can feel pretty lonely. The thoughts that flit through your mind can seem silly. Or unreasonable. Or even scary. Hanging with someone who just gets it can make all the difference, in the same way a support group for a physical health condition can help.
The quotes below come from Amy Keller Laird, founder of Mental. Keller Laird has bravely shared her personal experiences with OCD over the past few years. As a mental health advocate and former editor-in-chief of Women’s Health, she’s used her platform to explain the complexities of OCD, offering insight, understanding, and support for others going through similar struggles.
Her words provide a compassionate and realistic look at living with OCD, breaking down stigma and promoting awareness.
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1. “Only 1.2% of U.S. adults actually have obsessive-compulsive disorder.”
Misunderstandings around OCD are common, but its essential to recognize the real scope of the disorder.
2. “OCD is not about being neat or tidy because you love being neat and tidy. If being neat and tidy is your jam, it ain’t OCD.”
OCD is more about intrusive thoughts and compulsions, not simply organization.
3. “Less-talked-about manifestations of OCD: intrusive thoughts, excessive rumination, and fear of harming others.”
OCD goes beyond checking or cleanliness, involving mental compulsions often hidden from view.
4. “OCD is a complicated thing… contamination makes up a small slice, and people don’t understand the rest of the pie.”
OCD has diverse and complex symptoms that are often misunderstood or overlooked.
5. “You are not your thoughts. OCD thoughts are ego-dystonic, meaning they’re contrary and distressing to your values.”
Intrusive thoughts are not a reflection of you—the real you. Or your character or values.
6. “Some of your personality ‘flaws’ might actually be OCD symptoms.”
OCD can manifest in behaviors that are often mistaken for personal failings, such as excessive guilt or rumination.
7. “With real-event OCD, a person becomes very fixated on a past event, and it’s beyond feeling guilty—it’s an obsession.”
Real-event OCD makes past actions the source of obsession, creating irrational guilt or shame.
8. “The real event is the trigger. The obsession is, ‘What if they die by suicide because I said that?’”
Real-event OCD can lead to extreme and irrational worries based on real past events.
9. “I would treat guilt like any other rumination and feature of OCD, working on cognitive restructuring.”
Cognitive restructuring helps challenge obsessive thoughts and guilt tied to OCD.
10. “You do not have to live in a heightened state of OCD forever. There is treatment, and it helps!”
Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is a gold standard treatment for reducing OCD’s power.
11. “Exposure therapy sounds scary, but you do it in baby steps.”
Slowly confronting fears through exposure therapy is effective in managing OCD.
12. “Be aware of general talk therapy, which can become one big compulsion if the therapist isn’t trained in evidence-based treatment for OCD.”
Not all therapy approaches are suitable for OCD; specialized treatment is crucial.
13. “It’s okay if you need medication. Paxil’s been really helpful for me, and I have friends who take Prozac and Zoloft.”
Medications can be an essential part of managing OCD, just like for other health conditions.
14. “There’s no shame in taking meds. Nada.”
There should be no stigma around using medication to manage OCD, just as there isn’t for physical illnesses.
15. “Remember: You aren’t alone.”
Many people, including celebrities, publicly share their experiences with OCD, offering solidarity and understanding.
16. “OCD can try and trick you into believing otherwise, but it’s your actions that make you the person you are.”
OCD thoughts may try to deceive, but they don’t define a person’s character or worth.
17. “A few cool celebs who have spoken publicly about having OCD: Camila Cabello, Jessica Alba, Charlize Theron.”
Public figures sharing their OCD struggles helps raise awareness and reduce stigma.
18. “Wanna be OCD friends? You’re very welcome to sit with us.”
Finding community and understanding makes the OCD journey more bearable.
Read Keller Laird’s open letter to anyone who’s just been diagnosed or is worried about OCD: Dear Person Who’s Just Been Diagnosed With OCD…
