10 Signs That OCD Might Be Running The Show (And What To Do Next)

10 Signs That OCD Might Be Running The Show (And What To Do Next)

1. You can’t stop the “what if” loop.

Your brain gets stuck on repeat with intrusive “what if” thoughts-even when you know they don’t make sense. The most unlikely possibility can take you down an intensely anxious thought spiral.

2. You check, then re-check… and check again.

Doors, stoves, curling irons-your brain doesn’t let you trust the first check. Even when you know you already checked, it doesn’t feel like you already checked.

3. You feel guilty or ashamed about random thoughts you have.

Certain thoughts feel dangerous or “bad.” When a thought pops into your mind, you believe there must be a reason for it. You do all kinds of mental gymnastics to figure out what your thoughts mean about you, even if you’d never act on them.

4. You need things to feel “just right.”

Arranging, tapping, counting, or repeating until it feels “right”. You can’t explain what will make it just right. You will just know.

5. Your plans revolve around avoiding situations that might trigger unwanted thoughts or anxiety.

You might avoid people, places, or even specific words or colors. You know that there is nothing inherently bad or dangerous about them, but you worry about how they will make you feel.

6. You spend hours trying to feel certainty.

Whether you are googling symptoms or researching a problem online, no amount of information is ever enough. You can never seem to find a completely satisfactory answer that will quiet your doubts and make you feel sure.

7.You need lots of reassurance.

You have a hard time making a decision without running it by someone else first. You ask multiple people for advice about the same thing.

8. You re-read emails and replay conversations over and over in your mind.

You search for hidden meanings, clues to what another person is feeling, or signs that you might have embarrassed yourself.

9.You feel dread, but you don’t know why.

You can’t think of anything that is wrong, but it feels like something is dreadfully wrong. You use prayers, phrases, or mental steps to try to keep something bad from happening.

10. The anxiety always comes back.

You have figured out ways to feel better, but the relief is only temporary. It feels like it is just a matter of time before the anxiety roars back and floods your system again.

If several of these are familiar to you, OCD might be part of what’s going on for you.

Here’s the good news: OCD is one of the most treatable mental health conditions. OCD can absolutely improve with the right treatment!