"One evening I was walking along a path, the city on one side of me and the fjord below. I felt tired and ill. I stopped and looked out across the fjord -- the sun was setting, the clouds were turning blood-red. I felt a scream passing through nature -- it seemed to me that I could hear the scream. I painted this picture, painted the clouds as real blood. The colors screamed." (Edvard Munch, 1863-1944) -The Scream, 1893

Mind Games

"Dealing with OCD is just like having this weird, weird argument between the emotional and logical parts of your brain. The logical part says, If it looks like OCD, and sounds like OCD, it's probably OCD. The emotional part says, Screw you, logic, this is for real! Well, yeah, that's what I said last time, but this is really for real now!"

Tired of the mind games? Brain keep going in circles? Meet others who know how you feel. Join our OC Discussion Forum at NeuroticPlanet for support, advice, and a little perspective. Post a message on the board or just lurk, all are invited to the discussion. Any OCD obsession, including sexual obsessions or "H-OCD", is welcome.

What is OCD?

OCD stands for the psychiatric illness called Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. The obsessions and compulsions caused by the disorder are unwanted and sometimes horrifying. The compulsions are repetitive and senseless. OCD is considered an anxiety disorder. The stress of it can be like a continuous mental scream.

The good news is that there are many excellent treatments for OCD, including cognitive-behavior therapy, medication, and even herbal treatments. We have new information about hypochondriasis and compulsive hoarding. Learn more important mental health facts about OCD, and for a more comprehensive study, read our frequently asked questions about OCD. Read true stories from others who have been there.

I'm Gay but You're Not!

Have you ever been afraid that you were gay? Have these worries become frightening, disturbing, and pervasive? A gay person with OCD explains why you're not gay, but in fact have a type of OCD, sometimes called HOCD. Read I'm Gay and You're Not: Understanding homosexuality Fears.

OCD Takes Many Forms

OCD can be puzzling to many clinicians due to the myriad of faces it displays. OCD can cause contamination fears and washing, compulsive hoarding, religious concerns, obsessions with numbers, the need for symmetry, or even sexual obsessions.

OCD and the Christian

Maybe you've heard others say things like, "Why can't you pull it together?" or "You don't have enough faith in God," or "Just cut it out." You recognize that your thoughts or behaviors seem crazy, but you can't stop. No one seems to understand how much misery this is causing you. Read more about OCD and the Christian or Stan Popovich's article When Fears and Depression Have the Best of You. More info about OCD for Christians...

ob·ses·sion n. 1. Compulsive preoccupation with a fixed idea or an unwanted feeling or emotion, often accompanied by symptoms of anxiety. 2. A compulsive, often unreasonable idea or emotion.

com·pul·sion n. 1. a. The act of compelling. b. The state of being compelled. 2. a. An irresistible impulse to act, regardless of the rationality of the motivation. b. An act or acts performed in response to such an impulse.

anx·i·e·ty n. 1. a. A state of uneasiness and apprehension, as about future uncertainties. b. A cause of anxiety: For some people, air travel is a real anxiety. 2. Psychiatry: A state of intense apprehension, uncertainty, and fear resulting from the anticipation of a threatening event or situation, often to a degree that the normal physical and psychological functioning of the affected individual is disrupted.

More about obsessive-compulsive disorder...