Some Things I Wish More People Understood About OCD
It is a condition of anxiety, not desire
Intrusive thoughts can be anything, yes even that thing that scares or grosses you out or is morally bad. They're not secret wants. They're usually distressing but they're not always, and people who are being treated for it might not find them distressing - just because someone isn't distressed, doesn't mean the thought is wanted or aligns with their beliefs/wants
Obsessions can be anything, including complete nonsense sometimes
Compulsions don't necessarily have to be related to the obsession that causes them, but they often are
Compulsions can also be "avoiding doing a thing", not just "doing a thing", at times
Compulsions can be internal-only, in which the compulsion is specific thoughts
Not doing a compulsion feels anywhere between "I'm going to die" and "itch I can't scratch but feel desperate to"
We realize the obsession and compulsions are not logical sometimes, but often this does not help. Sometimes they feel logical in the moment
"Doing a different compulsion" is not the solution to compulsions, unless the compulsion you're already doing is in some way causing harm or further distress











