Q: What is the average length of time before OCD is diagnosed (after onset of diagnosable symptoms)?
It takes 11 years for the average person suffering from OCD to be properly diagnosed.

Q: Can OCD be treated with regular talk therapy?
No, regular talk therapy is not an effective treatment for OCD.

Q: If specialized treatment is not received, is there a risk that OCD will get worse? Even if someone is in therapy?
Yes, there is always a risk that OCD will get worse without specialized treatment. This can happen even if someone is already in therapy. In fact, receiving the wrong kind of therapy can worsen the symptoms of OCD.

Q: What is Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)?
ERP is backed by decades of research as the gold-standard therapeutic treatment of OCD. It is a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy that helps people learn how to act in ways that disrupt the OCD-cycle.

Q: Can OCD be cured? Does OCD ever just go away on its own?
No, OCD cannot be cured. But, with the proper treatment, people can significantly reduce and manage their symptoms! OCD will not go away on its own.

Q: Does having OCD just mean that you like to be clean and organized?
No. Having OCD means that a person has intrusive, unwanted thoughts that cause distress, and then performs some type of rituals or compulsions to relieve the distress and feel better. This may or may not have anything to do with cleanliness or organization.

Q: When people receive the proper treatment for OCD, do they usually get better?
Yes! Most people who receive the right treatment for OCD get better!