Our Favorite OCD Articles of 2023

The end of the year is a time for reflection and at NOCD, we’re reflecting on our efforts to bring hope to people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) through better awareness and treatment. The resources we create for the OCD community are an important part of those efforts. Whether you’re seeking guidance, inspiration, or a deeper understanding of OCD, we aim to provide it.

Looking back on the resources we’ve created this year, we’ve curated a list of must-read articles that resonated deeply with the NOCD Community in 2023. From useful tips for managing intrusive thoughts and compulsions to valuable insights for loved ones, each selection sheds light on an important aspect of OCD. We hope they can continue to be beacons of knowledge and support in the year to come.

For learning about OCD:

What Causes Intrusive Thoughts?

“While intrusive thoughts are one of the hallmark features of OCD, the truth is that we all experience distressing mental intrusions from time to time. But why are they so common? What explains why we have them at all, and is there anything we can do to get rid of them?” Continue reading →

Are OCD Symptoms a Trauma Response?

“This article is a small part of a bigger quest to better answer what causes OCD. Specifically, we’ll be looking at whether or not OCD can be a ‘trauma response’ and, if so, the possible implications on how it’s diagnosed, treated, and recovered from.” Continue reading →

5 Things You Should Know if You Want To Conquer OCD

“I suffered with OCD for years, before learning to manage it through ERP therapy. This has given me a unique perspective as someone who treats OCD professionally. Drawing from my experience both living with OCD and treating it, here are the 5 main things that I believe anyone should know if they hope to recover from OCD.” Continue reading →

For understanding and managing intrusive thoughts:

How Can I Tell if a Thought Is Intrusive?

“Everyone has intrusive thoughts, and they can be a central component of very serious conditions like OCD. But the exact nature of these thoughts can be unclear: are all seemingly ‘random’ thoughts intrusive? Are all intrusive thoughts bothersome?” Continue reading →

4 Reasons Why OCD Can Make Your Thoughts Feel So “Sticky”

“Of all the ways OCD can significantly impact and interfere with an individual’s daily life, its ability to make intrusive thoughts or obsessions ‘sticky,’ or difficult to stop thinking about, can be the most challenging. Dealing with the ‘stickiness’ of these thoughts may have left you wondering: why does this happen in the first place?” Continue reading →

5 Strategies for Accepting Uncertainty

“Uncertainty and doubt seem to lay at the bedrock of OCD. OCD demands 100% certainty, no matter the cost—a feat that is, of course, impossible to achieve. … If you’re wondering how you can interrupt this cycle and learn to allow uncertainty, here are five strategies that can help.” Continue reading →

For understanding and managing compulsions:

Coping Skills That Can Continue the OCD Cycle—and What to do Instead

“In moments of distress, it’s natural to turn to coping skills as a way of self-soothing. While the intention behind any coping skill is good, their effects can vary—and when you’re struggling with OCD, coping mechanisms that seem useful in other instances can end up having an adverse effect.” Continue reading →

Compulsive Confessing vs. Healthy Sharing

“Is it helpful to share your OCD symptoms with someone else? The answer depends on your intentions. Sharing your experiences with another person can bring us support, validation, and empathy, but could also fuel OCD’s fire if the sharing is a compulsive confession.” Continue reading →

5 Strategies for Breaking the Cycle of Rumination

“Fortunately, there are strategies that can help people with OCD stop ruminating and regain control over their responses to their obsessions—even when these thought patterns are especially tricky to identify. Here’s how you can stop rumination from taking up more and more of your life.” Continue reading →

For helping loved ones understand OCD:

Debunking 5 Common Myths About OCD 

“By taking a closer look at five common myths around OCD—and the reality that underpins and challenges them—we can shine a light on this often misunderstood but entirely treatable condition.” Continue reading →

What You Might Not See When Someone Has OCD

“From the outside looking in, some things are easy to observe in people with OCD. … However, not everything is so easily noticed, and some of the effects OCD can have on people are entirely invisible to the people around them.” Continue reading →

5 Things You Can Do To Support a Loved One With OCD, BFRBs, or Tic Disorders

“Maybe you’ve tried countless times to support them as well as you can, but you feel like something is not working. You’re not alone—the loved ones of people suffering from mental health conditions like these often struggle to figure out the best ways to support the people they care about. Here are five things to consider when supporting your loved one.” Continue reading →

For navigating daily life with OCD:

Living with OCD: Practical Tips for Everyday Life

“OCD can come and go throughout a person’s life. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be all-encompassing. You can still live a beautiful, meaningful life in which you work through the anxiety or discomfort while moving toward the things that you value.” Continue reading →

Coping With Triggers in the News When You Have OCD

“…you don’t need a mental health condition such as OCD to be bothered by negative news stories. … However, if you do happen to have a mental illness or a condition like OCD, you are probably more likely to ruminate on these events.” Continue reading →

Sleep and OCD: How to Win The Battle for Better Sleep

“Most people experience sleepless nights every once in a while. However, research has shown that those with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have higher-than-normal rates of insomnia. It can be hard to know where to start to improve your restless nights.” Continue reading →

Additional OCD resources and support

For more educational articles on OCD, visit the NOCD Blog. We publish new resources frequently and are always working to provide you with the latest information and research on OCD, the most helpful strategies for managing OCD symptoms, and further insight into our evidence-based, highly effective approach to OCD treatment.

If you or someone you love are struggling with OCD, we can help. You can schedule a free 15-minute call with our team to learn more about working with a licensed, ERP-trained NOCD Therapist. On the call, our team can answer any questions you may have about starting treatment and help you get matched with a therapist so you can start regaining your life from OCD.