10 Celebrities with OCD

OCD happens to the best of us. Even the most successful celebrities and Hollywood personalities expressed their tough and turbulent experiences with the disorder. The following list is considered some of the most famous OCD cases known among the general public. From singers, actors and athletes, OCD impacts us all in different ways. 

This post is all about Famous people with OCD

What is OCD?

OCD is a detrimental mental health condition that affects people from all walks of life. OCD is often compounded by depression and other anxiety disorders, including social anxiety, panic disorder and separation anxiety

Obsessive compulsive disorder is composed of two fundamental components, obsessions and compulsions. 

Obsessions are the driving factor behind the nature of the disease. Obsessive thoughts are the irresistible, irrational and frequently recurring thoughts that cause intense fear and anxiety. 

On the contrary, compulsions are repetitive behaviors performed in hopes of releasing stress caused by obsessions. Obsessions and compulsions complete each other, as the presence of one ensures the presence of the other

Millions of people around the globe suffer from OCD. Specifically speaking, around 150 – 180 million people are diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder.

 No matter your age, height, weight, ethnicity and/or your level of success in life, OCD affects us all. Believe it or not, celebrities are humans too and the likelihood of them developing OCD is not that shocking.

 In fact, some of the most famous and influential celebrities have openly admitted that they have OCD. Some of the most famous people with ocd have been reported in Hollywood between actors, singers, influencers and athletes. 

Related Article(s) – How to Help Someone With Obsessive Thoughts 

12 Celebrities with OCD 

The following list of celebrities and famous people is composed primarily by personal accounts in which they were open to share and talk about their mental illness, health issues and awful thoughts.

Moreover, these famous people have been open and transparent with the general public regarding how OCD affected their productive life and how they managed to control their obsessive compulsive tendencies and continue to raise awareness.

David Beckham 

We all have heard of David Beckham, the former England captain and the owner of an up and coming MLS team, InterMiami. 

It is well documented that David has OCD and struggles with it on a daily basis. David Beckham has admitted that living with his “tiring” obsessive compulsive disorder causes him to spend hours cleaning and organizing his home while the rest of his family is sleeping. David was a cleanliness freak.

The former star is very open about his OCD as he continues to say “The fact that when everyone’s in bed I then go around, clean the candles, turn the lights on to the right setting, make sure everywhere is tidy. I hate coming down in the morning and there’s cups and plates and, you know, bowls”.

“I clip the candle wax, I clean the glass, that’s my pet hate, the smoke around the inside of a candle,” he says. “I know, it’s weird.” 

Furthermore, in a 2006 interview David stated the following “I’ve got this obsessive compulsive disorder where I have to have everything in a straight line or everything has to be in pairs.

“I’ll put my Pepsi cans in the fridge and if there’s one too many then I’ll put it in another cupboard somewhere … everything has to be perfect.”

Amanda Seyfriend 

The Hollywood actor famously known for her roles in Les Misérables and Mean Girls has openly talked about her incredibly challenging experiences with OCD. As Seyfried explains, “as I get older, the compulsive thoughts and fears have diminished a lot,” the 11 difficult years have been an awakening and a game-changer for her. 

She additionally depends on her psychological knowledge of her feelings of anxiety disorder. “Knowing that many of my fears are unfounded is extremely beneficial.” 

Moreover she further explained “I’m on Lexapro, and I’ll never get off it,” she said. “I’ve been on it since I was 19, so 11 years. I’m on the lowest dose. I don’t see the point of getting off it.”

Despite her obsessive and intrusive thoughts, Amanda carved up a successful career in Hollywood, reinforcing the concept that recovery from OCD is in fact achievable through true sought therapy. 

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Howard Stern

The legendary Howard Stern is better known for his SiriusXM radio channels, and has openly admitted he struggles with mental health, specifically ocd.

He talked about some of his strange obsessions, such as having to do things in the exact same way and sequence because otherwise something would go wrong. 

Additionally, Howard Stern explains routines, particularly during his college years when he was under a lot of strain. He used performing activities to avoid confronting his worries.

Although Howard Stern acknowledges that he hasn’t yet conquered his OCD concerns, his treatment helps him cope. Transcendental meditation is something else Stern practices, and it also seems to be beneficial.

Daniel Radcliffe 

Most of us grew up admiring Daniel Radcliffe as Harry in the famous Harry Potter series. Little did we know that Daniel developed OCD symptoms as a young child in Hollywood. 

Radcliffe opened up about his experience with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), a type of anxiety illness, in a 2012 interview with The Sun, saying he had the mental health problem when he was five. 

The compulsions became so strong that he eventually found himself repeating everything he uttered. Naturally, to conceal his compulsive repetitions, he believed he had to do so while exhaling.

Additionally, he claimed it took him five minutes to turn off a light. After being sent to a therapist, Radcliffe was able to receive the assistance he required to deal with his compulsions. He claims that his issue is now under control, though he still occasionally skips his sessions. He advises anyone who has OCD to seek professional help.

Love Reading? Checkout our MUST READ OCD books List!

Leonardo Di Caprio 

One of the greatest to ever do it. Leonardo DiCaprio is considered the crème de la crème when it comes to Hollywood blockbusters. He is better known for his roles in Titanic, Inception, The Great Gatsby and his oscar winning performance in The Revenant. 

Leonardo DiCaprio did not hold back when discussing his battled health issues with OCD as he openly stated “I have obsessive-compulsive disorder in a very severe way.”

When he was around 11 years old, the Leonardo DiCaprio first became aware of having the mental disorder. He would have to touch things a predetermined amount of times before he would stop feeling worried.

As a result, Leonardo performed some really repeated behaviors. For instance, before leaving a room, he would have to knock three times on the wood.

He also had to tread carefully on sidewalk cracks. He would have to start over if he didn’t do it perfectly the first time. 

Leonardo grew increasingly isolated as his anxiety began. He stopped going to social gatherings and instead chose to stay at home. Because of his OCD, he had trouble focusing on his task and frequently had to take breaks between takes to calm himself from his intense ocd.

Fortunately, Leonardo DiCaprio has been able to control his OCD symptoms with the use of counseling, right treatment and seeking psychiatric help. He stated that he is now “in a very good place” and can live a somewhat regular life.

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Howie Mandel 

Howie Mandel, a judge on “America’s Got Talent” has been outspoken for a long time about his issues with various mental condition(s) and OCD. However, the comedian recently spoke about how agonizing that fight may be in an interview with People magazine:

“If I’m not laughing, then I’m crying. And I still haven’t been that open about how dark and ugly it really gets.”

Since he was at a young age, Mandel has battled a phobia of germs that was finally identified as OCD. He admitted to ABC News in 2009 that he was teased at school for refusing to tie his shoes because he didn’t want to touch the filthy laces, not because he couldn’t.

He has continued to struggle with the same bothersome obsessions and intrusive thoughts throughout his adult life, and as a result, he now greets people with fist bumps rather than handshakes which is in this case considered a positive healing mechanism.

Megan Fox

Megan Fox, better known for her role in Michael Bay’s Transformers movies as Mikaela, has been open about her struggles with OCD. 

Megan disclosed that she had Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), a disorder that many people find challenging or even devastating to live with extreme fear, in a 2010 interview edition of Allure. 

She acknowledges that she can’t handle “dirt,” and that she feels uneasy using public tools as well or using the toilet.

She told the magazine, “This is a sickness, I have an illness.”

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Frank Sinatra

The legendary singer, the famous voice behind “Fly me to the moon” did not discuss his OCD, instead his wife, Barbra did. In her memoir Lady Blue Eyes she discloses the various obsessions that plagued her late husband’s life. 

Having severe OCD, she acknowledged, was a struggle for Frank. Cleanliness was his obsession.

He was a person who took around 12 showers a day, she claimed. He was neat, I guess. He had a constant lavender odor.

 He was an extremely neat and cleanliness freak. He was previously preoccupied with keeping his hands clean.

This concern with cleanliness evolved progressively and peaked in the latter half of his career. Frank struggling with crazy cleaning rituals is just an example that many celebrities and famous people struggle just like we do.

Cameron Diaz

Better known for her lead roles in The Mask and The Teacher, the lovely actress did not hold back when discussing her OCD and organizational compulsions.

Diaz is obsessed with organization. She says she sometimes experiences sleeplessness as a result of her inability to tolerate other people’s dirty cupboards.

She will occasionally check through a stranger’s cupboards to make sure everything is in order.

 Cameron stated in a 1997 article that she had a germ phobia that prompted her to clean the doorknobs in her house so many times that the paint faded. She has also acknowledged using her elbows or waist to unlock doors. 

She claims that she has since “made her peace” with her intense fear. 

David Letterman

David Letterman’s experience with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has been a significant aspect of his life. OCD is a mental health condition characterized by intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors that can cause distress and interfere with daily functioning. Letterman has been vocal about his struggles with OCD, sharing his experiences to increase awareness and understanding of the disorder.

Letterman has described his OCD as encompassing various aspects of his life, from simple routines to more complex behaviors. For example, he has mentioned specific rituals such as making his bed or preparing pancakes in a particular way. These routines provide him with a sense of control and order in a world that can feel chaotic.

In David Letterman’s show, he has highlighted the challenges posed by his condition. He has described experiencing anxiety when his thoughts and behaviors deviate from what he considers acceptable.

This anxiety can be triggered by feeling like he has gone “over the top” or engaged in excessive behavior. The internal pressure to control his thoughts and actions can be overwhelming at times.

His openness about his OCD serves as a reminder that mental health conditions can affect anyone, regardless of their public persona. His willingness to discuss his experiences has helped increase understanding and empathy for those living with OCD and other mental health disorders.

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Howard Hughes

Howard Hughes, the renowned business tycoon, aviator, and filmmaker, battled with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). His OCD was characterized by an intense fear of contamination and germs.

Hughes famously spent countless hours taking extreme measures to maintain cleanliness, often washing his hands repeatedly and employing elaborate hygiene rituals. He was known for his obsession with orderliness, meticulously organizing his environment and demanding strict adherence to his preferences.

The impact of Howard Hughes’ OCD extended beyond his personal life. His compulsive need for control and attention to detail resulted in micromanagement tendencies, leading to delays and complications in his business ventures.

Additionally, his fear of contamination and social isolation caused him to withdraw from public life, contributing to his reclusive and hermit-like existence in later years.

Despite the challenges imposed by OCD, Hughes achieved remarkable success in various industries. However, his life and decisions were undoubtedly influenced by the impact of his condition, highlighting the profound effects OCD can have on individuals’ lives, regardless of their achievements or social standing.

Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron, a Hollywood beauty, has stated that she suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder and that the worry of having cluttered closets keeps her up at night.

The Academy Award-winning actress stated that she is obsessively concerned with organized shelves because she cannot bear dirty storage spaces, according to the Daily Mail online.

“I have a serious mental illness, obsessive-compulsive disorder. I don’t do counting or anything like that. I’m good with chaos, I just don’t like it when chaos is hidden. So I have a problem with cabinets being messy and people just shoving things in cabinets and closing the door. ” said the 43-year-old actress.

“I will literally lie in bed and not be able to sleep because I’ll be like, ‘I think I saw something in that cabinet that just should not be there”

Final Thoughts on Famous people with ocd

All in all, OCD does not discriminate. The most beloved and successful among us suffer from the detrimental disease. Let this be a reminder that even with OCD, you can achieve the highest levels of success in whatever profession you are in.

The above list includes the most famous OCD cases to date and is composed of Emmy winners, Oscars achievements, professional football trophy champions and influential music icons.

This post was all about Famous people with ocd