12/10/2026
What actually is OCD?
You’ve probably heard someone say:
“I'm a bit OCD about that.”
Usually because they like something tidy, organised or done a particular way.
But obsessive-compulsive disorder is much more than that.
OCD can involve unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images, urges or doubts known as obsessions.
And it can involve compulsions, which are things someone may feel driven to do physically or mentally in an attempt to reduce the anxiety those thoughts create.
That can include things like checking, cleaning, seeking reassurance, repeating actions or mentally going over something again and again.
And not all of it is visible.
From 12–18 October, we’ll be using OCD Awareness Week to talk more about what OCD can actually look like, challenge some of the misconceptions around it and share information that may help people understand it better.