October is OCD Awareness Month

OCD Awareness Week for 2026 takes place from October 11th to the 17th and is coordinated
globally by the International OCD Foundation. The core mission is to dispel misconceptions,
reduce the stigma surrounding obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and encourage early,
effective treatment access for the 200+ million people living with OCD worldwide.

Intrusive thoughts are one of the main ways that OCD manifests. These come in the form of
unwanted, involuntary images, urges, or ideas that pop into the mind unexpectedly and trigger
intense distress, anxiety, or disgust.

Over 90% of people experience occasional intrusive thoughts. In non-OCD experiences, people
easily dismiss them as random mental noise. In OCD, the brain attaches heavy meaning, danger,
or moral significance to the thought, turning it into an obsession.

These thoughts typically conflict sharply with a person’s core values, wishes, and character
(e.g., a gentle person having a sudden thought about harming someone). They represent fears,
not desires or intentions. Clinical research shows that having an intrusive thought does not
make a person any more likely to act on it.

Common themes of obsessive-compulsive thoughts include:
− Harm. Fear of accidentally or intentionally harming oneself or others, like pushing
someone or crashing a car.
− Contamination. Fear of germs, disease, dirt, or household chemicals.
− Taboo or forbidden thoughts. Unwanted sexual, religious, or moral/blasphemous
images or impulses.
− Mistakes. Fear of catastrophic consequences due to a lapse in care, like leaving the
stove or door unlocked.
− Relationship doubts. Persistent, distressing questions about whether you truly love or
are attracted to a partner.

Fortunately, modern medicine has been working hard to make living with OCD easier. These are
some of the methods we have today:
− Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). A specialized form of Cognitive Behavioral
Therapy (CBT) where individuals gradually face their triggers without performing
compulsions, helping the brain learn that anxiety naturally fades.

− Medication. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly prescribed to
help lower baseline anxiety and the intensity of obsessions.
− Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on changing your relationship with
thoughts by learning to let them pass without fighting or obeying them.

You can learn more about finding support and specialized resources through the International
OCD Foundation or the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. You can also share
personal stories or educational graphics using the hashtags #ThatsOCD and #OCDWeek. Local
or virtual community events can be found through the International OCD Foundation
Community Programs.

For questions and appointments, write to us on our website anytime or call us at (585) 442-
6960.