Language matters in OCD.

In everyday culture people say “I’m obsessing about this.” But in OCD that’s not really what’s happening. Obsessions are intrusive thoughts, images, or urges that show up without permission. They are not a choice. What we do have agency over is the response. That’s where compulsions come in.

So instead of saying “I’m obsessing,” it can sometimes be more accurate to say “I’m compulsing.” The obsession arrived on its own. The compulsion is the behavior or mental action we take in response to it.

I also think the word “compulsion” doesn’t always capture the full picture. Because OCD is not only about what people do. It’s also about what people don’t do. The places they avoid. The conversations they don’t have. The risks they don’t take.

That’s why I sometimes like the word “rituals.” Rituals include both the actions we perform and the avoidances that quietly shape a person’s life. Seeing both helps people understand how OCD operates and where recovery work actually happens.

When the language becomes clearer, the path forward often becomes clearer too.

#OCD #OCDRecovery #ERP #MentalHealth #Anxiety

Disclaimer: This Podcast and all of our mental health learning and educational content is not therapy and is not a replacement for therapy. Noah and Simon do not take this therapist-client role in any way for Resolvve.

Please seek professional help if needed. Go to www.resolvve.ca to get the support you need.

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