Magical thinking obsessive-compulsive disorder (magical thinking OCD) is an OCD subtype characterized by ongoing intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors rooted in the superstition or belief that one’s thoughts or actions can prevent negative experiences or harm. People with magical thinking OCD fear they will be responsible for something awful happening to themselves or others if they do not perform specific actions.
These fears may be specific (e.g., “If I don’t make the bed, my spouse will get into an automobile accident”) or they can be undefined (e.g., “If I don’t make my bed, something bad will happen to my spouse”). From the outside, there is often no connection between what a person fears and the action they perform to prevent it – one reason magical thinking OCD can be difficult to identify and treat without specialized training and experience.
However, as an OCD specialist with experience treating an expansive range of OCD themes, I want to emphasize that magical thinking OCD is no different from any other form of OCD, and it’s more common than many people realize. If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms in this article, you’re not alone—and effective, evidence-based treatment from qualified professionals can guide you to recovery.
What is Magical Thinking OCD?
Magical thinking OCD involves obsessions and compulsions performed to keep bad things from happening, though they have little or no visible connection to these feared outcomes from a rational perspective.
Even if the person logically understands their fear and compulsions are not connected or rational, the fear of causing oneself or another person harm is so great that they’ll engage in their compulsions just to be sure (e.g., “I’ll turn my phone on and off three times just to be on the safe side. What’s the big deal?”).
Magical thinking OCD compulsions may start small, but they can snowball over time. In more severe cases, magical thinking OCD can impede someone’s ability to function in their everyday life. These compulsions can become incredibly time-consuming and lead a person to avoid situations, locations, or people as part of their compulsions.
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Examples of Magical thinking OCD obsessions
In magical thinking OCD, obsessions are unwanted, intrusive thoughts or urges centered on superstition or the belief that one’s actions can prevent harm. Examples of magical thinking obsessions include:
- “If I buy a candle, my home will be cursed.”
- “If I use a pen to sign this document, something bad will happen.”
- “If I happen to look at the clock when it is 3:33 p.m., I will cause everyone I spoke to that day to have an awful day.”
- “Something terrible will happen on this flight.”
Examples of Magical Thinking OCD compulsions
In magical thinking OCD, compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed in response to obsessions and superstitions. People engage in these compulsions to reduce distress or prevent feared outcomes—like bad luck or harm to others—even when they know the behavior is not logically necessary. Examples of magical thinking compulsions include:
| Obsession | Compulsion |
| “If I buy a candle, my home will be cursed.” | “I must repeat the phrase ’all is well’ when I buy this candle.” |
| “If I use a pen to sign this document, something bad will happen.” | “I must use a pencil or perform a ritual to sign this document.” |
| “If I happen to look at the clock when it is 3:33 p.m., I will cause everyone I spoke to that day to have an awful day.” | “I must never look at a clock at 3:33 p.m.” |
| “Something terrible will happen on this flight.” | “I must text my parents and confirm everything is okay before the plane takes off.” |
Treatment for Magical Thinking OCD
The best course of treatment for magical thinking OCD, like all types of OCD, is ERP therapy (exposure and response prevention therapy). In ERP therapy, the goal is to gradually face obsessive thoughts or fears without performing compulsions.
When you continually engage in compulsions, it only strengthens your need to perform them. By preventing yourself from doing these behaviors, you teach yourself a new way to respond–and over time, you will likely notice a reduction in anxiety.
As part of ERP therapy, you will track your obsessions and compulsions and make a list of how distressing each thought is. With your therapist, you’ll slowly put yourself into situations that trigger obsessions. These exposures must be carefully planned to ensure gradual progress toward your goal without becoming overwhelming.
Some examples of magical thinking ERP therapies include:
| Obsession | Compulsion | Exposure and response prevention |
| “If I buy a candle, my home will be cursed.” | “I must repeat the phrase ’all is well’ when I buy this candle.” | Practice buying a candle without repeating the phrase. Acknowledge your anxiety, but resist the urge to count or repeat. |
| “If I use a pen to sign this document, something bad will happen.” | “I must use a pencil or perform a ritual to sign this document.” | Sign a document with a pen without performing any rituals. Sit with your discomfort and observe the anxiety that arises, without acting on it. |
| “If I happen to look at the clock when it is 3:33 p.m., I will cause everyone I spoke to that day to have an awful day.” | “I must never look at a clock at 3:33 p.m.” | Allow yourself to look at the clock when it reads 3:33 p.m. and notice your anxious thoughts without trying to avoid them or change your behavior. |
| “Something terrible will happen on this flight.” | “I must text my parents and confirm everything is okay before the plane takes off.” | Board the flight without texting your parents beforehand. Acknowledge the anxiety and trust that nothing bad will happen, even without the reassurance. |
If an exposure feels too overwhelming to start with, your therapist can work with you to adjust the intensity. You might start by becoming more comfortable with your obsessions. For example, a therapist might suggest saying “all is well” only once when you buy the candle, instead of repeating it multiple times.This helps introduce a new idea to your mind and familiarize yourself with the uncertainty that causes the anxiety driving your compulsions.
As you progress, you’ll work with your therapist on the emotions that come up during exposures. It may be scary and bring up many of the fears you’ve been avoiding, but with practice, you’ll find the intense need to engage in your compulsion will lessen. Eventually, your anxieties will subside, and you’ll regain the ability to act freely.
How to get help for Magical Thinking OCD
It may be tempting for someone with magical thinking OCD to think of themselves as simply superstitious, particularly if these compulsions only last a few seconds. But over time, if your obsessions and compulsions worsen, they can impose a burden on your ability to function in your everyday life. Identifying these symptoms, assessing their impact on your life, and making an accurate diagnosis of OCD can be difficult.
If you or someone you know is struggling with magical thinking OCD, an experienced therapist with specialized training in OCD and ERP–like myself and my colleagues here at NOCD–can help you understand how your symptoms work, learn the ways they impact your life, and work with you to create a personalized treatment plan.
