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TOC United Kingdom states that obsessive-compulsive disorder is “the sixth largest contributor to non-fatal health loss worldwide.” Why is it not fatal? Well, there is no official scientific publication proving otherwise about OCD deaths.
However, just because it’s not on paper doesn’t mean it’s not real. I know someone who committed suicide after being unable to work/live with this mental issue. THE intrusive and debilitating thoughts that kept popping up in his mind, stealing his ability to function, it was just too much. If you have suicidal thoughts or feel unsafe, seek help immediately. In the United States, call or text 988 to connect to Suicide and crisis lifeline.
What OCD Really Looks Like
This is my story. I was diagnosed with OCD in 2019 and have since been an advocate for others suffering from the same mental issue. I am well aware of depressive thoughts and the debilitating toll that OCD places on the heart and mind.
Truth be told, I was unable to hold down a full-time job in my early 20s due to OCD. I got into a car accident because of a compulsive thought I “had” to give in to. I’ve been in therapy for years. If that’s not bad enough, I’ve been called “depressed,” “anxious,” and suffering from an “incurable” mental disorder.
Meanwhile, what is quite discouraging is that in today’s society, even though mental health awareness is on the rise, people continue to casually toss around the (false) idea that they are “so OCD.” Whether they’re trying to explain their need for order or their desire to keep things clean, it’s a misconstrued and damaging idea.
As a result, those who truly struggle with this disorder can easily assume that they do not suffer from OCD, because their struggles run much deeper than the occasional symptom of wanting to color coordinate one’s clothes. They do not receive proper treatment and only become weaker. OCD is not a preference for order or cleanliness; it is a serious mental health disorder characterized by intrusive thoughts, compulsive responses, distress, and disturbances in daily living.
Why OCD stereotypes are finally being challenged
Noah Kahanan American singer-songwriter, recently opened up about his struggle with OCD, leading many to discuss the true nature of the disorder. Kahan said rolling stones“I was under the influence of the idea that OCD meant, ‘I have to wash my hands a hundred times.’ But I didn’t realize how much more there was to do. I started putting all these pieces together since I was a child and I’ve had these different rituals my whole life. It wasn’t just anxiety or stress. It was this real insidious disorder that I was fighting against.
He even confided his intrusive thoughts: “I was convinced that something was happening that wasn’t happening, or that I had said something that I just hadn’t said…I could convince myself that I had hit someone, knowing full well that I hadn’t seen anyone on the road.”
So it makes sense that we discuss the vital importance of dismantling the most common stereotypes of OCD so that its true victims can find help and, most desirable, freedom:
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1. Myth 1: There is only one type of OCD
OCD is as complex as the intrusive thoughts it causes. This means that there are several types of OCD and each type has many subtypes.
What is symmetry OCD?
While many people, those who often use the self-descriptor “so OCD” loosely, think that the only type of OCD is that based on the need for organization and order, there is only one type: symmetry OCD. And it’s much more than a need for organization and order. This requires compulsive responses that can make it difficult to function, let alone enjoy life. Other main types include Harmful OCD, Religious Thoughts/Taboo Rituals OCD, and Contamination OCD.
What is contamination OCD?
Some have heard of contamination OCD, a debilitating fear of germs, fraught with contact tracing, obsessive hand washing, and a general fear of being around others. But few have heard of or understand harmful OCD and OCD related to religious thoughts and taboo rituals.
What is OCD?
Harm OCD is the fear of hurting someone else, regardless of the method. This can look like worrying about causing a car accident and having to turn around to make sure no one was hurt (hence my accident), or worrying about harming someone sexually (which makes people with this disorder afraid of things like changing their own child’s diaper).
What is OCD related to religious thoughts and taboo rituals?
Religious Thoughts/Taboo Rituals OCD includes intrusive thoughts often associated with the fear of having blasphemed God. There is panic when someone discusses eschatological concepts or evil. People with this type of OCD are often unable to watch horror movies or even discuss the idea of Halloween. The images these conversations provoke, coupled with terrifying thoughts, make them fear constant damnation.
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2. Myth 2: OCD is something people can control
You do not have OCD. The OCD is in your possession. This is what makes him miserable. This is why people seek therapy. This is why some people unfortunately commit suicide.
When my mind imagines OCD in a physical body, it’s always a looming monster. It’s always hanging over me, always in control. I certainly don’t claim the monster. I have never had and will never want to own such a creature. I just want to be free from it in the name of Jesus.
Consider this: OCD would not be a disorder, and certainly not a glib, boastful adjective that so many people overuse, if people with the disorder actually had control over it. We would choose to defeat it, bury it, and leave it behind for eternity. So OCD would not exist. It’s so horrible that none of us would ever choose to keep it, no matter how many ways we’d like to think we could transform it and turn it into a useful part of us.
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3. Myth 3: OCD is useful or productive
I’ve heard many people contextualize OCD in such a way that it feels like a companion. It’s that stubborn but well-meaning part of your brain that pushes you to finish cleaning the kitchen or reorganizing your desk. She’s a cheerleader with a megaphone who only wants what’s best for you. After all, if you follow his urging, good things happen. The kitchen is clean. Now you know where all your important documents are located on your desktop. Life is sweeter and easier; you even feel a sense of relief.
Except that OCD never relieves its victims. Instead, they instantly feel fear, anger, frustration, depression, fear, mood swings, and/or hopelessness. Thoughts that real OCD is tricking you into fighting your way out are not encouraging. They are filled with fear and convince you that if you don’t do x, y, or z (i.e. follow through on a compulsive response), the intrusive thought might become real or true. Thoughts are never fun. They are never good. And giving in to the compulsive response they crave only leaves you stuck in a frenzied loop, where no matter how many times you follow and obey their incessant “nudges,” you are miserable. Often you are even unable to function in normal society. You are anything but helped.
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4. Myth 4: OCD is just about cleanliness or organization
As we discussed earlier, no matter how many times I share with others that there are many branches/types of OCD, these same people still want to discuss “their” OCD in terms of order or topicality. Remember, OCD is not about preferences or even personality traits. In fact, OCD is often quite the opposite. Since it is most often rooted in a fundamental fear, it takes what you fear most and convinces you that that is what you are or will become.
Are you afraid of accidentally running another car off the road and becoming a homicidal criminal? Well, the best thing to do is simply never drive again. So if you drive again, you will undoubtedly run someone off the road since you ignore the intrusive thought that you should never drive again. And if you’re willing to take such a crazy risk, are you really any better than a homicidal criminal? Or worse, what if you actually want to become a homicidal criminal and that’s why you drive your car?
See? It’s a loop. A constant, miserable loop that only involves organizational skills are the ones that keep you on a tightrope, enslaved to thoughts you never wanted.
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5. Myth 5: OCD is just an obsession
I’ve had so many people ask me how to tell if they have OCD rather than just an obsession. For example, I’m obsessed with color coordinating my wardrobe. I follow the scientific order ROYGBIV, and although I love it when others help me do my laundry and put my clothes away, it irritates me immensely when I turn on my closet light and see that someone has stuck a green shirt in my blue clothes area. I’m obsessed with this organization, but it’s not OCD because it doesn’t trigger a compulsive response. In other words, you have to have the “C” to have OCD.
I can walk away from my disorganized closet without it causing mental anguish. There are no mental loops in which my thoughts spiral. I don’t think, “If I don’t color coordinate my clothes [insert wild or tragic thing] it could happen. I don’t feel sweaty and my heart doesn’t race if I don’t rearrange my wardrobe. My desire for this organization is a deeply rooted preference, but it doesn’t pause my day or cause debilitating anxiety and incessant, nagging thoughts. This does not require a compulsive response that shuts up re the intrusive thought, but only for a second, until it returns.
OCD thoughts are destructive because they force a response. Many times, thoughts control a person’s sense of worth, even their purpose. Their lives are consumed by responding to the very thoughts they wish would never enter their minds.
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A word of hope for those living with OCD
For those with OCD, the one lie I wish you wouldn’t give in to is the idea that you are your disorder, that you are exactly what the intrusive thoughts want you to believe. I pray that fear does not dictate your story, that you seek Christian therapyand that you don’t let this mess have the last word. Hope will always win. Scripture clearly says that fear will never have the last word.
Hope does not mean pretending that OCD is minimal; it means believing that Christ is near, that help is worth seeking, and that this disorder does not define who you are. Remember this as you continue, dear friend:
“Not only this, but we also glory in our sufferings, for we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, for the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. – Romans 5:3-5 (NIV)
If OCD is interfering with your daily life, talk to someone you trust, contact a qualified mental health professional, and seek treatment from someone trained to understand intrusive thoughts and compulsions.
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Frequently Asked Questions About CO D, Intrusive Thoughts and Faith
- What is OCD?
OCD is a mental health disorder involving intrusive, unwanted thoughts and/or compulsive behaviors that cause distress and can interfere with daily life. - Does OCD just want things to be clean or organized?
Cleanliness or organization may be part of some people’s OCD, but OCD may also involve fears of harm, religious fears, taboo thoughts, fears of contamination, checking, repetition, reassurance-seeking, and other compulsions. - What are intrusive thoughts?
Intrusive thoughts are unwanted thoughts, urges, or mental images that may seem disturbing, frightening, or inconsistent with a person’s values. - Can Christians Fight OCD?
Yes. Christians can struggle with OCD just as they can struggle with anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues. Having intrusive thoughts does not mean that a person chose or approved of those thoughts. - Should Christians with OCD seek therapy?
Yes. Seeking qualified mental health care can be a wise and faithful course of action. Christian support, prayer, and scripture can work alongside evidence-based treatment.
To go further
- 3 Powerful Ways to Stop Your Thoughts From Spinning Out of Control
- How to Deal with Anxiety as a Christian
- How to Stop Anxious Thoughts and Find Peace
- 8 Important Ways Christians Can Take Care of Their Mental Health
- What the Church Should Know About Mental Illness
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This article was originally published on Christianity.com. For more faith-building resources, visit Christianity.com.
Originally published on Tuesday June 30, 2026.
