OCD Awareness Week: From Misunderstanding to Mindfulness

Every year, OCD Awareness Week (October 13–19) provides an opportunity to educate, share stories, and build compassion for those living with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Too often, OCD is misunderstood or minimized in casual conversation — we’ve all heard someone say, “I’m so OCD about my desk” or “I just like things neat.” But true OCD goes far beyond wanting order or cleanliness. It’s a deeply distressing and often misunderstood mental health condition that can affect every aspect of a person’s life.

OCD involves intrusive, unwanted thoughts (called obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental rituals (called compulsions) that someone feels driven to perform to reduce anxiety or prevent something bad from happening. These cycles can be exhausting and can take up hours of a person’s day. OCD can manifest in many ways — from fears about contamination or harm to obsessive doubts, symmetry needs, or intrusive moral or religious thoughts.

For many people, OCD isn’t visible. You may not notice the endless mental checking, the internal counting, or the constant reassurance-seeking. This invisibility is one reason why awareness is so important — it helps break down misconceptions and encourages empathy instead of judgment.

Why Awareness Matters

• To replace stereotypes with understanding. OCD is not about being “clean” or “organized.” It’s about anxiety, fear, and a desire for control in an overwhelming world.

• To encourage people to seek help. OCD is treatable — therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) can make a profound difference. Medication and support groups can also help people regain control over their lives.

• To build community. Talking about OCD openly reminds those struggling that they are not alone and that what they experience is valid.

How You Can Support OCD Awareness

• Learn and share accurate information about OCD from credible mental health sources.

• Avoid using OCD as an adjective or joke — words matter, and changing how we talk about mental health helps change how people feel about seeking help.

• Offer compassion instead of advice. You don’t need to “fix” someone’s OCD; just being present, listening, and validating their experience can mean everything.

• Support mental health organizations that fund research and therapy access for OCD.

If you or someone you love struggles with OCD, please remember that you are not alone. OCD does not define who you are — it’s something you experience, and healing is possible. With therapy, community, and continued advocacy, people can and do recover, learning to live with compassion for themselves and confidence in their strength.

This OCD Awareness Week, let’s commit to replacing misunderstanding with empathy, silence with conversation, and stigma with support.