What’s the difference between anxiety and OCD (and why it matters!)

[@tanialochrie4710]

Thank you. My son has OCD and washes his hands excessively. I try to rationalize with him many times and he just gets angry. I had no idea that we are not supposed “to talk” to OCD! This is my first video I watched from your channel. I will sure watch more.

[@michelefoudy6989]

Oh my gosh… we have been battling with my daughter’s “anxiety” for the last 2 yrs…. And it’s finally dawning on me that she has OCD. No wonder our techniques are not working. Providing her with reassurance is our downfall! Thank you for this! Now I just need to convince her therapist as my daughter is very good at hiding it from people outside of our family.

[@Natashadanielsocdtherapist]

If the therapist isn’t an OCD Specialist you might want to find one. You can always go to www.IOCDF.org/find-help or for an OCD assessment go to www.treatmyocd.com

[@tubayuksel7293]

Hi michel. What kind of ocd you have your kid? i had got religious ocd whe i was i child. i hope that you will overcome this illness with patience.

[@CQM-y6v]

This is the best explanation I’ve seen so far for why/how they are different disorders. What’s still us a little unclear is whether OCD and anxiety can exist along a spectrum. The DSM seems to indicate they don’t. But I know that sometimes I just have to check the stove once before bed, and other times I have to touch every knob and then recheck it and alsoo ok touch the outlet where the toaster plugs in because seeing the toaster unplugged isn’t good enough. One day it’s anxiety, the next day it’s (mild) OCD. What if you research a fear for days and days and finally feel you’ve gotten enough information to put it to rest? Was that an OCD compulsion or just very thorough anxiety? I do sometimes think I reach sort of a conclusion with some obsessions, where I finally feel I know enough or have a plan to cope with the worst case and then I can stop obsessing.

[@Natashadanielsocdtherapist]

I think they can overlap and impact each other. I don’t think it is black and white. Your example is a great demonstration of that.

[@chantalekilley4219]

Wow- this is very relatable to me. I just posted a similar comment but should have read this one first. You can read mine and see if it’s relatable to you! And glad for the reply from the author. Although this leaves me thinking they are distinct disorders but a person can have a bit of one mixed in with the other??

[@Natashadanielsocdtherapist]

@@chantalekilley4219 Yes, they are distinct disorders that impact different parts of the brain, but they are often comorbid conditions. So there is frequently an overlap.

[@stellaf.1020]

As someone who gets OCD about intruders throughout the night I’m laughing my ass off listening to you read my mind after explaining the anxiety my reaction was exactly how you described OCD

[@BestBFam]

You have helped my family. We value you.

[@Natashadanielsocdtherapist]

@@BestBFam I’m glad I can be a source of support for your family ❤️

[@User-z5g8x]

I feel like I have an obsession I act on it and then it goes but it will always come back

[@jasond626]

Very good video.. good explanation and tools to use.. thanks

[@wildriverbass]

Powerful stuff - thanks Natasha!

[@chantalekilley4219]

Is there a spectrum to OCD? I do relate in part to a voice telling me to check things or do things to try to process something I am anxious about. In particular certain topics - for me health things or weather or packing/ preparing or work related communications or sometimes contamination. But even if I may have to do a lot more than the average person before I walk away from the obsessive style of checking… I usually can eventually . I don’t know if this is anxiety or OCD. A few times it has spiraled and consumed all my energy for weeks at a time but typically it is low grade or I am able to draw a line and say “that’s enough” even if I feel still very uncomfortable. Thoughts anyone?? Thank you and I’m so glad there is sharing of info so we can better understand our experience and that of others.

[@alexstone9099]

Hey, not an expert myself so this is just an opinion of some random person, but from my understanding OCD can be managed, and indeed needs to be managed. And it is possible that in your case you have simply been able to manage it well, whether knowingly or not, and this is one explanation. I am not diagnosed myself though I similarly have noticed some very OCD type symptoms (intrusive thoughts coinciding with anxiety especially) and for years I thought my brain had an evil part of it that had it in for me, but in recent years it hasn't noticeably been an issue at all, so I do think these things can be managed to varying degrees so that is one explanation.

[@chantalekilley4219]

@@alexstone9099 well, "random person", thanks for sharing your insight, and your experience as well. i appreciate you putting it in context, and it's still nice just to hear someone else's take on it, and especially experience. Thank you! ;)

[@alexstone9099]

@@chantalekilley4219 happy to be of help :)

[@helenscicluna8298]

This was very insightful, thank you.

[@iulitudor5906]

So clearly explained! Very useful!!! Thank you!❤

[@amandacasemore9234]

Good breakdown & super helpful. Thank you!

[@franklind3507]

Thank you for this. I’ve been diagnosed with OCD and anxiety and ADHD. Saw a therapist for seven years, but she was not an OCD therapist. I just learned about this method through watching videos like yours. My therapist decided to retire two years ago and I’ve been just watching these videos for now. Doesn’t seem to be any OCD experts in my general area. Do you have any recommendations for online therapy? thank you🙏

[@Natashadanielsocdtherapist]

@@franklind3507 You can always try NOCD at www.treatmyocd.com. They do virtual OCD therapy. Also there are more and more therapists doing virtual. You can find a directory of providers for OCD at www.iocdf.org/find-help

[@franklind3507]

@@Natashadanielsocdtherapist thank you so much for getting back to me and for the information🙏

[@iamgeeth1567]

hi Natasha,, Is Anxiety is something which happens in between obsession and compulsion?

[@User-z5g8x]

I’m sure I have ocd but my therapist says I only have anxiety and now I feel crazy

[@Natashadanielsocdtherapist]

Not all therapists are trained to assess or treat for OCD. I would find a provider at www.iocdf.org/find-help or NOCD at www.treatmyocd.com and get a second opinion from a skilled OCD therapist.

[@wilma.espiritucrowley]

Same here. And I’m here doing my compulsion by researching to get reassurance that I’m not just making my condition up and also to make a strong case that I (also) have OCD.

[@bneum]

Question. So you gave an example of the "what if" there is a bad guy upstairs. the issue i have is that could be an irrational thought, but that is a reasonable concern, that still could happen. Yes chances are low but there are still chances. I had a couple thoughts like this the other day, that I kept checking to make sure I locked my car. And that is a fear based off of a realistic concern, someone breaking in and stealing the car or things inside. Going swimming, fear of the unknown, what if there is a fish or bigger animal that attacks me, in some places this is irrational but in some cases it's still a possibility. So I am confused, because those are still fairly legitimate fears no? So is the answer to not go upstairs and check if there is a bad guy/double check if I locked my car/just go swimming anyway? Because if we do these things, then those things we fear could still actually happen. If we acknowledge that we had a fear of not locking our car and something getting stolen and we dismiss it and then someone actually does break in, then our fear was realized and that would confirm that it is a good thing, no? I hope this makes sense. Any thoughts? Do I just need to separate the act of double checking from the anxiety and fear of these possibities? are they different or connected? I did write out this comment before watching the entire video, but wow this was really helpful though. Thank you!

[@Natashadanielsocdtherapist]

OCD is about having an intrusive thought/feeling and then the need to do or avoid something to get brief relief. With anxiety we might check once, with OCD we will doubt and have to check, re-check and check again. Many people have both anxiety and OCD.

[@jamesreeves9740]

Interesting I had ocd bad then to an ssri which basically healed me for 20 years then I caught Covid and became quite anxious afterwards which then led to ocd coming back the only thing I can figure is it messed up something that cay my anxiety levels to rise , not sure how to fix this.

[@tobsteroyster6026]

I believe I might have guilt, and like emotional cleanliness ocd. I almost will feel something yell or shout inside my head, Just a jumbled mess of different things and my mind will flash over and over again the same memories of bad things I’ve said or done. And they are horrible, but I can’t seem to ever forgive myself. I feel there is missing closure with the person I said the things to, that I will never have. I feel dirty and useless and horrible person for things I did almost a decade ago, some things over a decade ago and it’s every day. I will be doing dishes and pop in my mind a replay of it and it feels like a stab in the chest. I have to avoid the thoughts by cleaning, doing laundry, moving my body in any way like a walk. I am autistic. But is it okay to self diagnose OCD with it? Also is there any tips on how to deal with guilt ocd specifically?

[@daisybharali9630]

I just figured i have none actually. i just keep imagining things and keep getting fearful for nothing. What the hell is wrong.. what i basically do is purposely sit and keep thinking.. "what if i have these thoughts..what if i have those thoughts then what would happen.. bla bla" Im just not busy.

[@evonnerice360]

Hi! I appreciate your videos so much! Do you have a video that deals with the child struggling with seams on clothes or wedgie?

[@shawnleong3605]

You made it feel like ocd is worse than gad. Both are equally bad

[@AvAv-x8f]

Can MRI Show ocd because it is neurological disorder?

[@shawnleong3605]

It is not.

[@shawnleong3605]

But the DSM is a human construct. I would classify ocd as still an anxiety disorder

[@So__what3]

So if we dont talk to ocd, are you saying that therapy is not useful at all? I'm confused.🤍

[@Natashadanielsocdtherapist]

@@So__what3 therapy is key! You just need OCD therapy - which is very specific.

[@So__what3]

@@Natashadanielsocdtherapist tysm, i appreciate it 💞