33 Powerful OCD Quotes When Times Get Tough
Medically Reviewed By – Juliet Gustafson, LMSW
In the realm of mental health, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) stands as a complex and often misunderstood condition. It weaves intricate patterns within the minds of those affected, shaping their thoughts, actions, and daily lives.
OCD is characterized by persistent, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) that compel individuals to perform repetitive behaviors or rituals (compulsions) in an attempt to alleviate anxiety or prevent perceived harm.
Understanding the challenges faced by individuals with Obsessive compulsive disorder requires empathy, knowledge, and a willingness to delve into the depths of their experiences.
1
“I’m tired of being inside my head. I want to live out here, with you.”
– Colleen McCarty
2
“Refuse to act on an obsession, and it will die of inaction”
– Recovery Inc.
3
“You lose time. You lose entire blocks of your day to obsessive thoughts or actions. I spend so much time finishing songs in my car before I can get out or redoing my entire shower routine because I lost count of how many times I scrubbed my left arm.”
– Kelly Hill
4
“I’m a person who also happens to have OCD”
– Patricia Perkins-Doyle
5
“Pain of mind is worse than pain of body”
– Publius Syrus
6
“Not having to control or fight OCD can lead to a sense of freedom or lightness. Your energy can then be spent on things that you find meaningful. I often hear people say, “My OCD is exhausting.” After working on letting go of control, suddenly people report having more energy.”
– Marisa T.
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7
““It’s not the thoughts but rather what you do with them that maintains the OCD cycle.”
– Katie d’Ath & Rob Willson
8
You may well feel uncomfortable with this kind of uncertainty or risk, which isn’t surprising as these are key features in OCD, but tolerating this discomfort and testing out new behaviours is key to overcoming OCD.”
– Katie d’Ath & Rob Willson
9
“No passion so effectively robs the mind of all its powers of acting and reasoning as fear“
– Edmund Burke
10
Doubt permeates the OCD mind. It’s difficult to be 100 percent certain of almost any situation in life.”
– Laura L. Smith
11
““When it isn’t thinking about the future, the OCD mind dwells on possibilities from the past. The mind fills with thoughts about what might have occurred.”
– Laura L. Smith
12
“People with OCD often wear a mask. On the outside they appear so put together, but on the inside, they are falling apart. ”
– Marisa T. Mazza
13
“My OCD is a speed bump, not a barrier, to happiness.”
– Amelia Diane Coombs
14
“Fighting OCD is like boxing. Each time you go against a thought, it’s a punch to its strength. Each time you listen to your OCD, its biceps get bigger and it becomes a more powerful opponent. It’s a war of attrition – you just have to keep fighting.”
– Allison Britz
15
“Telling someone with OCD to stop obsessing about something is like telling someone who’s having an asthma attack to just breathe normally.”
– Tamara Ireland Stone
16
“At its crux, OCD treatment is about learning to live with the discomfort of uncertainty.”
– Jeff Bell
17
“People with OCD including myself, realize that their seemingly uncontrollable behavior is irrational, but they feel unable to stop it.”
– Abhijit Naskar
18
“Because the thoughts and behaviors of those with OCD are so unusual or socially unacceptable, people with OCD often feel deeply embarrassed and ashamed.”
– Laura L. Smith
19
“It takes dedication, perseverance and patience to overcome OCD, and each of these is far more valuable to you than thinking about your speed!”
– Katie d’Ath & Rob Willson
20
“For me, it’s an ever-present nagging feeling that something is just ‘not right.’ I can never really, truly ‘make it right.’ I have to learn to live with the all-consuming feeling of mental discomfort“
— Laura McCarthy
21
“The OCD mind focuses on possible future calamities. The predictions almost never come true. Yet, the obsessive thoughts keep coming and demanding attention, very naughty.”
— Unknown
22
“Don’t let OCD control your life. You are in charge, not the disorder.”
– Charlize Theron
23
“People who live with OCD drag a mental sea anchor around. Obsession is a brake, a source of drag, not a badge of creativity, a mark of genius or an inconvenient side effect of some greater function“
– David Adam
24
“I could think of nothing but the loneliness of being stuck in that glass room with only OCD for company. OCD, the bully; OCD, the oppressor; OCD, the destroyer of lives; OCD”
– Ben Gander
25
“I have OCD mixed with ADD; you try living with that. It’s complicated.”
– Justin Timberlake
26
“A lot of people assume that having OCD means liking things organized or hating germs. It tends to be treated like a quirk or an endearing trait. But it’s so much more than that. It’s the one thing that prohibits me from being free of myself.”
– Whitney Amazeen
27
“I have OCD, which is not fun. I have to be incredibly tidy and organized or it messes with my mind and switches off on me”
– Charlize Theron
28
“Often during writing, I am compelled by Obsessive compulsive disorder to delete and rewrite a word or sentence over and over again“
– Abgijit Naskar
29
It’s like having mental hiccups. Mostly, we can function despite the ‘hiccups,’ but we’re exhausted attempting to carry on as if they didn’t exist.”
— Sheila Cavanaugh
30
“Imagine all your worst thoughts as a soundtrack running through your mind 24/7, day after day.”
— Adam Walker Cleveland
31
Obsessive compulsive disorder is like having a bully stuck inside your head and nobody else can see it.”
— Krissy McDermott
32
“This only is certain, that there is nothing certain“
– Pliny the Elder
33
“A man that flies from his fear may find that he has only taken a shortcut to meet it.”
— J.R.R. Tolkien
Final Thoughts
The journey through the world of OCD quotes has been a profound exploration of the human experience, highlighting the unique challenges faced by individuals living with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. From the depths of their minds, these quotes have offered glimpses into the intricate tapestry of thoughts, anxieties, and compulsions that shape their lives.
Through the voices of psychologists, researchers, and individuals who have walked the path of OCD, we have witnessed the resilience, courage, and determination that emerge from the depths of this condition. These quotes have eloquently captured the internal struggles, the battles fought daily, and the triumphs achieved against all odds.
If you found this article helpful, imagine what an entire guide to OCD could do for you. Check out my ebook, Listen Up: OCD is Talking, and take charge of your journey today.
