What Makes OCD Worse? 5 Common Mistakes (and How to Stop Them)
TL;DR:
If you’re struggling with OCD, intrusive thoughts, or rumination, behaviors like reassurance-seeking, mental compulsions, and avoidance may be making symptoms worse. OCD treatment focuses on changing these patterns and learning to tolerate uncertainty.
Relationship OCD vs Anxious Attachment: How to Tell the Difference
TL:DR:
Relationship OCD (ROCD) involves intrusive doubts about the relationship itself—such as questioning whether you truly love your partner or whether the relationship is “right.” Anxious attachment, on the other hand, typically involves fear of abandonment and worry about losing the relationship. While the two can feel similar, ROCD is driven by obsessive thoughts and compulsive attempts to gain certainty.
Wondering if you have relationship OCD or an anxious attachment style? Learn the key differences between ROCD and relationship anxiety, common signs, and when to seek help from an OCD specialist.
How Clarifying Your Values Can Strengthen OCD Treatment
TL;DR:
OCD often pulls people into a cycle of intrusive thoughts and compulsions that slowly begin to shape daily life. Clarifying your personal values—such as connection, honesty, adventure, or growth—can help guide OCD treatment by shifting the focus away from eliminating anxiety and toward building a meaningful life. In evidence-based treatments like Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), values provide motivation to face fears, resist compulsions, and move toward the life you want, even while uncertainty is present.
How Do I Stop Ruminating? - Non-Engagement Responses (NERs) for OCD: What They Are and How They Work
TL;DR:
Non-Engagement Responses (NERs) are short statements used when OCD thoughts appear. They help you notice anxiety, accept uncertainty, acknowledge possibilities, and sit with difficulty—without analyzing, reassuring, or ruminating. Over time, consistently using NERs teaches your brain that thoughts and anxiety can exist without controlling your actions, helping you regain control and reduce compulsions.