At first glance, habits and compulsions might seem pretty much the same. I mean, both involve repeating actions, stick around in our daily routines, and become automatic over time. Yet, when we consider obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), compulsions have a distinct essence that separates them from regular habits. Grasping this difference sheds light on why OCD…

Violent intrusive thoughts associated with OCD are seriously distressing. They hit you out of the blue, feel totally shocking, and make you second-guess your entire identity and morality. Although the person experiencing them doesn’t actually want to hurt themselves or others, these thoughts can involve harming images or ideas. It’s super crucial to get this—having…