Get to know OCD

Most films and TV shows get OCD completely wrong. They reduce it to a quirky obsession with cleanliness or a need for perfect symmetry, missing the relentless, intrusive thoughts that actually define the disorder. But filmmakers Luca Pizzoleo and Conor Patrick Walsh — who both have OCD themselves — set out to change that. Their short film, O.C.D., isn’t about neat freaks or excessive handwashing;...

For years, Brenna Posey struggled with overwhelming fears, intrusive thoughts, and behaviors she couldn't explain. She went through cycles of anxiety, compulsions, and brief periods of relief—never realizing there was a name for what she was experiencing. It wasn’t until one pivotal moment that everything clicked. In this video, Brenna shares the exact moment she realized she had OCD, how she...

Kristy Quinn never expected to find herself at rock bottom. Growing up, she struggled with crippling OCD, intrusive thoughts, and overwhelming anxiety — challenges that few around her truly understood. To cope, she turned to alcohol, using it as a way to quiet the never-ending noise in her mind. But what started as an escape quickly became a trap, pulling her deeper into addiction and self-destruc...

Scrupulosity OCD isn’t just about religion — it’s about relentless self-doubt, moral perfectionism, and the constant fear of making the “wrong” choice. For Summer Lemmon, that meant questioning every decision, feeling paralyzed by guilt, and seeking endless reassurance that she was a good person.  Then, everything changed when Summer lost her mother — the person who had always reassured her that t...

Talking to friends and family about OCD can be frustrating, especially when they think it’s just about being neat and organized. In this video, Brenna Posey breaks down the real OCD—what it actually looks like, why people misunderstand it, and how you can explain it in a way that makes sense. She’s been through it herself, so she gets how tough it is when people don’t take OCD seriously. Instead o...

With the Oscars Awards happening tonight, Hollywood is shining a light on mental health like never before. NOCD team members Brenna Posey dives into A Real Pain, the Jesse Eisenberg film nominated for an Academy Award, starring Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin. The film explores OCD and depression through a deeply personal lens, with Eisenberg drawing from his own struggles with OCD, anxiety, and depre...

Cayla Davis never imagined that motherhood and marriage would come with a silent battle — one that lived in her mind and convinced her she was a danger to the very people she loved most. When intrusive thoughts took hold, everyday moments with her children became terrifying, and the weight of OCD strained her marriage. The back-and-forth battle wasn’t easy, and the guilt of needing constant suppor...

Brenna Posey takes you through her personal journey of living with OCD, breaking down common misconceptions and revealing what it’s REALLY like. As she covers in the video, OCD goes far beyond the common tropes of being clean or organized. In fact, many of the struggles of OCD — mental compulsions and constant anxiety — are invisible to the average person. Through her story, Brenna offers an hones...

Dr. Patrick McGrath shares a powerful story from his time running an intensive outpatient program, where four individuals — each convinced they had the most difficult case of OCD — were brought together to debate whose struggle was truly the hardest. As the conversation unfolded, it became clear that while their experiences were unique, they shared a common belief: their OCD was untreatable.  Dr....

In this episode, we sit down with author and writer Haley Jakobsen to explore her deeply personal journey with undiagnosed OCD and the identity crisis it caused. Haley shares how her experience with OCD didn’t match the typical portrayals seen in media, leading to years of confusion, shame, and isolation. From intrusive thoughts to relentless self-doubt, Haley opens up about how OCD latched onto t...

At her lowest point, Brenna Posey felt trapped in OCD’s grip, struggling to find a way forward. In a desperate attempt to make sense of it all, she opened her phone’s notes app and began documenting everything — every struggle, every small victory, and every insight from Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy. Over time, this simple act of journaling became her roadmap to recovery, capturi...

A decade ago, finding effective OCD treatment was an uphill battle —misdiagnosis, stigma, and inaccessibility left many struggling alone. But change is happening. OCD advocate Chrissie Hodges and Stephen Smith, co-founder and CEO of NOCD, share their personal and professional journeys in reshaping the landscape of OCD care. From grassroots advocacy to groundbreaking digital therapy, they explore h...

For someone with contamination OCD, everyday life becomes a series of exhausting rituals and overwhelming fears. Touching a surface, using a public restroom, or even being near other people can trigger an intense fear of contamination, leading to compulsive handwashing, sanitizing, or avoidance behaviors. The anxiety isn’t just about germs — it extends to a deep sense of responsibility, fearing th...

Kim Vincenty never set out to become an advocate, but when her son was diagnosed with OCD over two decades ago, she found herself thrust into a world where resources were scarce, understanding was minimal, and treatment was often out of reach for many families. What began as a mother’s desperate search for answers quickly transformed into a mission to bridge the gaps in OCD care. From leading loca...

Valentine’s Day is supposed to be a time of love and celebration, but for those struggling with OCD — especially Relationship OCD — it can feel like anything but. Instead of enjoying the moment, obsessive doubts creep in: Am I really in love? What if this isn’t the right person? What if I’ll never find true love? These relentless questions don’t lead to clarity—they lead to anxiety, second-guessin...

Alix Behar joins the Get to Know OCD podcast to share a raw, unfiltered look at her life with obsessive-compulsive disorder. She takes us through her personal journey — from the crippling fears that once controlled her life like washing her hands until they bled and avoiding doorknobs, to the life-changing moment she sought therapy and took the first step toward recovery. Alix opens up about the m...

A groundbreaking new study has revealed that kids and teens can overcome OCD in half the time using virtual therapy. This is the largest study ever conducted on virtual Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) treatment for children and adolescents, and the results are clear: virtual therapy with NOCD significantly reduces OCD symptoms faster and more effectively than traditional therapy. To break d...

The Grammy Awards are happening this Sunday, February 2, and while the spotlight shines on music’s biggest night, it’s also a moment to recognize the resilience behind the artists we love. Four nominees — Ariana Grande, Luke Combs, Madison Beer, and Nikki Glaser — have opened up about their struggles with OCD, proving that even the most successful stars face mental health challenges. In this video...

Dr. Patrick McGrath and Michelle Massi have a combined 45 years of experience treating OCD. They’ve heard it all — now, they’re answering your most common questions. Why does OCD feel so real? How do you recognize a compulsion? Can you have a successful relationship while struggling with OCD? In this episode, Patrick and Michelle tackle listener questions like those and more. With expert insights,...

Intrusive thoughts don’t care if you’re famous. As the host of Nickelodeon's iconic Double Dare game show, Marc Summers built a career on controlled chaos, but behind the scenes, his struggle with OCD was anything but entertaining. In this episode, he pulls back the curtain on his lifelong battle with intrusive thoughts, the fears that shaped his childhood, and the unexpected moment that led...

OCD can distort reality, making intrusive thoughts about self-harm or suicide feel overwhelming and urgent. But there is a critical difference between suicidal OCD and true intent. In this important video, Dr. Patrick McGrath explains how OCD fuels fear, why compulsions take hold, and the importance of proper diagnosis and treatment.  All thoughts of suicide or self-harm should be taken seriously....

Why do some people compulsively pull their hair or pick at their skin? In this episode, Dr. McGrath breaks down body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs), including trichotillomania (hair pulling) and excoriation disorder (skin picking). He dives into why these compulsions happen, the cycle that keeps them going, and — most importantly — how to break free.  If you or someone you know struggles wit...

Nicole Sophia didn’t just write about her OCD — she gave it a name, a voice, and a melody. On this episode of Get to know OCD podcast, she opens up about Samantha, the song and music video that capture the relentless, looping thoughts that have followed her since childhood. From sleepless nights to second-guessing every lyric, she shares how OCD has shaped both her struggles and her songwriting. I...

Dr. Patrick McGrath, a licensed clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience treating OCD, has helped thousands of people reclaim their lives from the relentless grip of intrusive thoughts and compulsions. In this video, he shares the same expert-approved techniques that have transformed lives. Dr. McGrath reveals what works, what doesn’t, and how to push forward even when it feels impos...

Dr. Taylor Arnold, pediatric dietitian and the mind behind Growing Intuitive Eaters, joins Get to Know OCD to share her personal journey of overcoming OCD and breaking the cycle of disordered eating. From her struggles with emetophobia (fear of vomiting) to raising three children while managing contamination OCD, Dr. Arnold opens up about the challenges of parenting with OCD and how it shaped her...