"You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf."
-John Kabat-Zinn
You deserve a life beyond anxiety, intrusive thoughts & compulsions.
"I just need to check one more time."
"I have to be sure."
"What if I don't do this and something terrible happens?
"I know this thought isn't rational, but I can't shake this feeling."
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You’ve tried talking about your thoughts, analyzing them, and reminding yourself they’re irrational. Maybe a part of you knows that you shouldn’t have to check, ask, or seek reassurance—but knowing that doesn’t make the anxiety disappear. It still feels just as real, just as urgent.
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The thoughts come out of nowhere, intrusive and relentless, demanding your attention. Maybe it’s the fear that you’ll lose control and do something terrible, even though you don’t want to. Maybe it’s the doubt that you missed something, made a mistake, or contaminated something. Maybe it’s the unbearable discomfort of something feeling wrong, out of place, uneven, unfinished. No matter how much you try to push the thoughts away, they only come back stronger. It's just one compulsion away. If I just think a little bit more, or check a little bit more, or repeat it again, or ask for reassurance again.
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So you check.
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You repeat.
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You avoid.
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You seek reassurance.
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And for a moment, maybe you feel better, until the anxiety creeps back in, demanding more. The cycle continues, leaving you exhausted, frustrated, and questioning why nothing ever feels “finished” or “right,” or safe. You know these patterns aren’t helping, but stopping feels impossible.
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You’ve gained insight, but insight alone hasn’t been enough. You’ve been told, “Just let the thoughts pass,” but they don’t. You’ve tried logic, but the thoughts aren't logical. No matter how much you tell yourself it’s just anxiety, the fear doesn’t loosen its grip. You want to trust yourself again. You want to move through your day without the weight of thoughts dictating every decision.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. And you don’t have to stay stuck. There is a way to break the cycle, sit with the discomfort in a way that actually weakens OCD’s hold, and finally start feeling like yourself again. Real change is possible, and you don’t have to figure it out on your own.
You don't have to live life feeling stuck and overwhelmed, you can have a life ran by you, not your thoughts or emotions.
What is OCD, really?
OCD isn’t just about being “a little particular” or liking things neat. It’s an anxiety-driven cycle of unwanted, distressing thoughts (obsessions) followed by repetitive behaviors (compulsions) meant to ease the anxiety—but only temporarily. The relief never lasts, and before long, the cycle starts again.
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Maybe you find yourself:
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Checking doors, locks, appliances, or your own memory over and over.
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Seeking reassurance from others to calm the anxiety.
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Washing or cleaning excessively, even when you logically know it’s unnecessary.
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Mentally replaying situations, conversations, or scenarios to make sure you “did it right.”
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Avoiding people, places, or situations that trigger anxiety.
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The cycle of OCD convinces you that performing these rituals will bring relief. But instead, it strengthens the obsession, making the fear feel even more real.
What kinds of OCD exist?
There are SO many! Let's normalize them:
Contamination OCD
Harm OCD
Checking OCD
"Just Right" OCD
Pure OCD
Relationship OCD
OCD can manifest in countless ways, and this list only scratches the surface. Some lesser-known but equally distressing forms include:
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Sexual Orientation OCD (SO-OCD) – Obsessive doubt about one’s sexual identity, leading to compulsive checking, reassurance-seeking, or "testing" attraction.
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Religious / Scrupulosity OCD – Fear of being morally or spiritually "wrong," resulting in excessive praying, confessing, or avoiding certain thoughts, people, or places.
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Existential OCD – Endless loops of questioning reality, the meaning of life, or one’s own consciousness, leading to feelings of detachment or distress.
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Postpartum OCD – Intrusive thoughts about harming one’s baby, despite having no desire to act on them, leading to compulsive checking or avoidance of childcare tasks.
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Sensorimotor OCD – Hyperfocus on bodily functions like blinking, swallowing, or breathing, with the fear that the awareness will never go away.
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Health Anxiety OCD – Intense fear of having a serious illness, leading to compulsive symptom-checking, reassurance-seeking, or avoidance of doctors and medical settings.
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Superstitious / Magical Thinking OCD – Belief that specific numbers, words, or actions have the power to prevent bad things from happening, leading to rigid rituals.
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Hoarding OCD – Difficulty discarding objects due to fear of regret, emotional attachment, or a sense of responsibility to keep everything "just in case."
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Emotional Contamination OCD – Avoiding people, places, or objects associated with "bad energy" or distressing memories, often engaging in cleansing rituals.
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False Memory OCD – Fear of having done something terrible without remembering it, leading to excessive mental reviewing, reassurance-seeking, or confessing.
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Pedophilia OCD (POCD) – Distressing, unwanted thoughts about being attracted to children, despite having no actual desire or intent, leading to avoidance or excessive checking for "proof."
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Identity OCD (Self-Concept OCD) – Constant questioning of one’s personality, values, or beliefs, leading to overanalyzing past behaviors or compulsively seeking validation.
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Decision-Making OCD – Fear of making the "wrong" choice, resulting in excessive research, second-guessing, or inability to commit to decisions.
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Counting / Repeating OCD – Feeling compelled to count objects, steps, or actions in a specific way to prevent anxiety or feared consequences.
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Thought Avoidance OCD (Blocking / Neutralizing OCD) – Avoiding specific words, numbers, or topics for fear they will bring harm, often replacing them with "safe" thoughts.
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OCD can attach itself to anything, making it feel urgent, distressing, and impossible to ignore. No matter what form it takes, the cycle of obsessions and compulsions remains the same—and so does the path to breaking free.
Why Traditional Therapy Hasn’t Worked for OCD
You’ve tried talking through your thoughts, using logic, and learning coping skills. Maybe you’ve worked on mindfulness, breathing techniques, or challenging negative thinking. But no matter how much you try to “manage” OCD, it keeps pulling you back in.
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That’s because OCD doesn’t respond to logic. It runs on doubt and fear. The more you engage with it, the stronger it gets.
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So what actually works? A different approach. One that doesn’t just help you understand OCD, but teaches your brain to stop listening to it.
How ERP Breaks the Cycle
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the gold standard for OCD treatment. It helps you face fears without compulsions so anxiety loses its grip. With time, you’ll retrain your brain to tolerate uncertainty and take back control.
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In therapy, we’ll:
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✔ Identify triggers and the patterns keeping you stuck.
✔ Gradually face fears in a safe, supportive way.
✔ Reduce compulsions, so anxiety fades instead of growing stronger.
✔ Rebuild trust in yourself without OCD dictating your life.
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This isn’t about “just dealing” with OCD. It’s about breaking free.
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What to Expect​
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A personalized plan based on your OCD themes.
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Guided exposure exercises so you’re never alone in the process.
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Practical tools to handle anxiety without compulsions.
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A judgment-free space where you’re fully understood.
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Let's take this journey together.
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"There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn't."
-John Green