OCD Basics
OCD Themes
Myths & Misconceptions
Treatment & Recovery
Identifying OCD vs. Not OCD
100

This disorder is defined by unwanted thoughts and repetitive behaviors.

What is OCD?

100

Fear of germs or getting sick is part of this theme.

What is contamination OCD?

100

True or False: OCD is just being neat or organized.

What is false?

100

 These medications, also used for depression, are often prescribed for OCD.

What are SSRIs?

100

This brain process—normal for everyone—becomes excessive and intrusive in OCD.

What are intrusive thoughts?

200

These intrusive thoughts cause anxiety and drive compulsions.

What are obsessions?

200

Repeatedly making sure doors or appliances are off falls under this category.

What is checking OCD?

200

This personality disorder is often confused with OCD but is actually very different.

What is OCPD?

200

In ERP, the goal is to face the fear and do this—not perform the compulsion.

What is response prevention?

200

 A person who likes things clean but does feel anxiety, if things are messy you do not have this.
 

What is OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER

300

These repetitive actions (physical or mental) are done to reduce distress.

What are compulsions?

300

Needing objects to feel balanced, aligned, or “just right” is this OCD theme.

What is symmetry or “just-right” OCD?

300

 People with OCD avoid certain triggers because they’re trying to prevent this.

What is anxiety or distress?

300

This therapy skill helps people challenge distorted thinking patterns.

What is cognitive restructuring?

300

Repeatedly focusing on a real-life problem is rumination; doing it to neutralize anxiety is this.

What are compulsions?

400

This is the gold-standard therapy for OCD.

What is Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)?

400

Intrusive fears of harming others, despite having no desire to do so, fall under this.

What is harm OCD?

400

True or False: Intrusive thoughts reflect a person’s true desires.

 What is false?

400

Patients gradually face feared situations using this type of ladder-like plan.

What is an exposure hierarchy?

400

This type of worry is based on realistic concerns, unlike the irrational “what-ifs” of OCD.

What is general anxiety (or realistic worry)?

500

This term describes when OCD takes up over an hour a day and interferes with life.

What is clinically significant impairment?

500

 Repetitive internal counting or mental reviewing are examples of this subtype.

What are mental compulsions?

500

This phrase describes OCD with no visible compulsions.
 

What is Pure O (primarily obsessional OCD)?

500

This term describes the long-term tool of accepting discomfort instead of eliminating it.

What is tolerance or distress tolerance?

500

When someone recognizes their obsessive thoughts are irrational, they're showing this insight level.

What is a good or fair insight with OCD?