The goal in managing OCD is not to eliminate intrusive thoughts but to reduce the power they have over your emotions and actions. Intrusive thoughts are a normal part of human experience—everyone has them! The difference in OCD lies in how these thoughts are interpreted and responded to.

During an OCD episode, specific areas of the brain become hyperactive.

Your mind is stuck in a loop of persistent, intrusive thoughts that just won't leave you alone. Often, it feels like you're constantly battling worries, fears, or doubts that make you question everything you do. It's like your brain keeps sounding an alarm over and over—even when there's no danger. Now, to quiet the alarm, fear, or panic that you

I do know what it’s like to be trapped in my own thoughts. I know what it's like to feel like my mind is working against me and to feel like I have no control over the endless what-ifs.

(DBT focuses on mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness, which can be particularly helpful in managing the emotional distress associated with OCD.)

I found new ways to sit with discomfort rather than run from it, to embrace uncertainty rather than fear it. Slowly but surely, I built a life that felt more like my own.