Exposure Therapy for OCD and PTSD: Similarities & Differences
Exposure therapy is often associated with treating fears, phobias, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. But exposure-based approaches are also among the most effective treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. That can initially feel confusing. If someone has experienced a genuinely frightening or painful event, why would therapy ask them to think about it, talk about it, […]
Tell Me What OCD Is Really Like: A Teen’s Mission to Increase Understanding and Compassion
At Light On Anxiety, one of our core goals is increasing understanding of OCD and reducing the stigma that often surrounds it. We were excited to learn about a local student’s creative effort to help others better understand what OCD is really like through the voices of those who live with it every day. Olivia […]
Relationship OCD: When Doubt Hijacks Your Relationship
Most people have occasional doubts in relationships. Relationship OCD is different. If you find yourself stuck in relentless loops of “What if?” thoughts about your partner or your relationship — thoughts that feel urgent, distressing, and impossible to resolve — you may be dealing with Relationship OCD (ROCD). Relationship OCD isn’t a sign that something […]
OCD vs OCPD: What’s the Difference?
OCD vs. OCPD: Similar Names, Different Realities Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) sound almost identical, but they are not the same thing. While they both involve perfectionism, control, and anxiety, they show up very differently in daily life—and require very different treatment approaches. Let’s break it down. What is OCD? People with […]
Understanding and Treating Somatic OCD with “Eye Popping” Fears
For most people, the thought of their eyeball “popping out” might sound unusual or even silly. But for someone struggling with Somatic OCD—a subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder that latches onto body sensations—this fear can feel terrifying and all-consuming. Why Your Eyeball Is Safer Than OCD Wants You to Believe Here’s the good news: your eyes […]
False Attraction OCD: When Doubt Feels Like Desire
If you’ve ever been blindsided by a thought like “What if I’m attracted to that person and I shouldn’t be?” or “Did I just like that? What does that mean about me?”, you’re not alone—and you’re not broken. You may be experiencing a form of OCD known as False Attraction OCD (sometimes also called Sexual […]
Somatic OCD: When Normal Sensations Get Weird
Most people have fleeting moments where something about their own body or senses feels strange.Maybe you’ve had a random thought like, “Isn’t it weird that I’m seeing the world through these two small openings in my head?”Or a split-second curiosity about where in your brain your thoughts are happening.These quick blips of awareness usually pass […]
Mindfulness Training for Harm OCD & Intrusive Thoughts: How To Reclaim Your Focus
Intrusive thoughts have a way of pulling us out of the present moment and into a whirlwind of mental noise—doubt, fear, guilt, and “what if” spirals. If you’ve ever felt like your mind is running the show (and not in a good way), you’re not alone. But here’s the good news: you can train your […]
What To Do When OCD Says Someone In Your Life Is “Contaminated”
What if your child told you they couldn’t sit near their sibling… not because they’re fighting or annoyed—but because their brain is screaming that being close to them feels dangerous or “contaminated”? This isn’t just a personality clash or a phase of teen irritability. It could be Emotional Contamination OCD, a lesser-known but deeply distressing […]
10 Things You Would Be Surprised to Learn About Tourettic OCD
When most people think of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), they envision repetitive behaviors like checking locks or excessive handwashing. However, OCD presents in many different forms, some of which can look very similar to other conditions. One of these lesser-known forms is Tourettic OCD, which shares some features with both traditional OCD and Tourette Syndrome. Below […]
Pedophiles, Rapists and Murderers…Oh My: How to Disengage from Harm OCD & Re-engage in Your Life
Over the past few years, there has been increased awareness and understanding of OCD within the general public. The simplest definition of OCD is the frequent experience of intrusive thoughts and associated behaviors engaged in to decrease discomfort associated with these thoughts. One category of OCD which we frequently see at our treatment center that […]
How do I cope with anxiety and OCD?
Question: How do I cope with anxiety and OCD? Light On Anxiety Answer: Managing your anxiety and OCD is possible. It does get better. In fact, anxiety is the most treatable mental health disorder there is, and according to some experts, OCD falls under this umbrella. Therapy and treatment In the mean time, here are some smaller […]