When most people hear “OCD,” they think of handwashing or organizing. But obsessive-compulsive disorder is far more complex than pop culture makes it seem. OCD is a long-lasting mental health condition that can make even daily tasks feel impossible.
At Allied Psychiatry & Mental Health in Newport Beach, California, we help patients truly understand the condition and manage it effectively. Take a moment as Dr. Hadi Estakhri shares seven facts about OCD that you might not know.
OCD is a mental health condition that involves two key parts:
Obsessions are unwanted, intrusive thoughts that cause anxiety or distress. Compulsions are the repetitive actions or behaviors a person feels they must do to reduce that anxiety. Together, these cycles can take up a lot of time and interfere with your daily life.
While some people with OCD do struggle with cleanliness or germs, others may fixate on completely different issues, such as a fear of harming others, unwanted sexual thoughts, or needing things to “feel right.” Obsessions vary widely from person to person.
Not all compulsions involve external rituals like checking locks or washing hands. Many are mental acts, such as repeating certain words, counting, or trying to neutralize a disturbing thought. This makes OCD harder to spot and often misunderstood.
OCD often begins in childhood or adolescence, and early symptoms can be mistaken for quirks or phases. OCD symptoms can start to pop up in childhood, even in preschool-age children.
The International OCD Foundation notes that the two most common age ranges for symptoms to first appear include:
Note: This refers to when symptoms first begin. You may be diagnosed much later. In fact, the average time between the first symptom and an OCD diagnosis is 12.78 years.
OCD affects about 1 in 40 adults and 1 in 100 children in the United States, and many live undiagnosed for years. Because OCD can come with shame or secrecy, it’s often underreported.
OCD is an anxiety disorder, and like all anxiety disorders, when OCD goes untreated, it can take a serious toll on your daily life. The constant cycle of obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors can interfere with work, school, relationships, and even simple routines like leaving the house or going to bed.
Over time, untreated OCD may also lead to depression, social isolation, or other mental health struggles. Getting the right support can make a big difference in breaking the cycle and taking back control.
OCD is highly treatable with the right support. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), especially a method called exposure and response prevention (ERP), is considered the gold standard. Medications like SSRIs can also help reduce symptoms.
Dr. Estkahri also offers transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for OCD. TMS, which has been FDA-approved to treat OCD since 2018, uses pulsed magnetic fields to stimulate specific areas in your brain.
If you or someone you love struggles with obsessive thoughts or compulsive behaviors, help is available. Dr. Estakhri specializes in personalized mental health care and offers compassionate support every step of the way.
Call our office at 949-945-0927 or book an appointment online today to start your journey toward peace of mind.
