Tormented by repetitive thoughts, there are few conditions I have seen cause the level of suffering that obsessive-compulsive disorder can. While the media caricature of OCD involves super-organization and overachievement, this is rarely the story those diagnosed share.

OCD can trap a person in a single fear. It might whisper, "Are you sure you aren't secretly evil," as a person examines their motivation and behaviors, or it might cry, "What if you have cancer?" Unwanted images and urges can follow. A pull to check one's car once more just to be certain that there are no signs of having run someone over, or images of cancer cells multiplying are ways this might manifest.

The pain is real. Meta-analysis suggests that 1 in 10 individuals living with OCD attempt suicide (Pellegrini et al., 2020) and that the strength of the obsessions is one of the best predictors of suicide in those living with OCD.

When I came across work regarding OCD's bright spots, I admittedly felt briefly confused. How could such a cycle have anything good about it? I spoke with........

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