While there is no official “cure” for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), treatment methods like exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy, a specialized form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), can help you effectively manage its symptoms and reduce the impact on your daily life.
If you’ve been recently diagnosed with OCD, you might feel a mix of emotions—confusion, frustration, or even fear. It’s natural to have questions like, “Is there a cure? Can OCD go away on its own? Is it worth trying to wait out the symptoms?”
OCD can be a challenging and often misunderstood mental health condition. Like many mental health issues, OCD is a chronic condition, meaning its symptoms don’t simply disappear on their own. It’s also important to know that mental health conditions can’t be “cured” in the same way an infection can be treated with antibiotics—but that doesn’t mean hope is out of reach.
If your definition of a cure is that you’re never gonna have an intrusive thought ever again or an urge to do a compulsion—then no, there’s no cure. I think a cure is more along the lines of, ‘I’ve learned to live with this and not let OCD rule me.’
Dr. Patrick McGrath
The good news is that OCD is highly treatable. With the right therapy, your symptoms can become much more manageable and stop interfering with your life. As Dr. Patrick McGrath, Chief Clinical Officer at NOCD, explains: “If [your definition of] a cure is that you’re never gonna have an intrusive thought ever again or an urge to do a compulsion—then no, there’s no cure. I think a cure is more along the lines of, ‘I’ve learned to live with this and not let OCD rule me.’”
In this article, we’ll explore what living with OCD means, how symptoms show up, and—most importantly—how you can find the treatment that works best for you. You’re not alone, and there are real, effective ways to feel better.
Find the right OCD therapist for you
All our therapists are licensed and trained in exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), the gold standard treatment for OCD.
What is OCD?
OCD is a mental health condition characterized by obsessions, or recurrent intrusive thoughts, which are unwanted urges, feelings, sensations, or images that cause anxiety. In response to obsessions, someone with OCD performs compulsions, which are repetitive behaviors or mental acts, to reduce distress, neutralize a thought, or prevent a bad thing from happening.
It takes an average of 14 to 17 years to receive a proper diagnosis and effective treatment for OCD. This delay is often due to a lack of understanding or awareness of the condition, as well as misconceptions about the nature of OCD. “We think OCD is just washing your hands or being neat,” says Dr. McGrath. “It’s these small things that give people the impression that this is what OCD really looks like.”
These misconceptions can prevent individuals from recognizing their own symptoms or seeking the appropriate treatment. To help you really understand OCD, it’s important to have a deeper understanding of its two defining symptoms—obsessions and compulsions.
What are obsessions?
Obsessions are intrusive thoughts, urges, sensations, or feelings that appear with great urgency for people with OCD. Common OCD obsessions can look like an extreme need for perfection or for things to be “just right,” fear and doubts about your “true” sexuality,” intrusive thoughts about harming others or yourself, and many more. Intrusive thoughts can feel scary and overwhelming, but it is important to remember that they are ego-dystonic, meaning that they don’t align with your true beliefs or values.
It’s important to know that everyone has intrusive thoughts from time to time. Many people are able to simply have an intrusive thought and move on from them. However, for someone with OCD, these intrusive thoughts are much more intense, persistent, and distressing. Instead of simply moving on from them, a person with OCD may become consumed by these thoughts, believing they are dangerous, unacceptable, or likely to cause harm. This heightened response leads to a cycle of anxiety and distress, where the person feels compelled to perform compulsions.
What are compulsions?
Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts that someone does to decrease anxiety, neutralize a thought, or prevent something bad from happening. This perpetuates the OCD cycle by providing temporary relief after doing a compulsion. This can look like checking, tapping, reassurance-seeking, rumination, or avoidance.
Generally, obsessions and compulsions can greatly affect you and your relationships. The constant cycle of intrusive thoughts and the need to perform compulsions often takes up a significant amount of time and mental energy, leaving you frustrated, scared, and isolated.
Can OCD just go away on its own?
Typically, OCD does not go away on its own or get better without treatment. “I think if OCD goes untreated, it could start to feel that it’s getting worse because you get more and more stuck in your compulsions over time,” McGrath says.
One of the main reasons people may delay seeking care for OCD is due to stigma. They may feel ashamed or embarrassed to get help due to societal judgments or misconceptions, or because of the taboo content of their intrusive thoughts.
Additionally, some people might be skeptical about the effectiveness of therapy, questioning whether it can truly make a difference in their lives since it isn’t a definitive cure. Skepticism may stem from past experiences, or the belief that they should be able to ‘handle things on their own’. These concerns can create significant barriers, making it harder to take that first step toward seeking help, even when it’s clear that support is needed.
The first step can be incredibly difficult, but it’s also one of the most important. Whether that’s learning more about OCD, reaching out to a therapist, or simply acknowledging that you need help.
ERP therapy: The most effective way to treat OCD
Although there is no cure for OCD, there is an evidence based therapy developed to specifically treat the condition called exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP). ERP is a specialized form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) that was created to treat OCD.
Unlike traditional CBT, which can actually reinforce obsessions and compulsions, ERP is designed to disrupt the OCD cycle.
ERP is done in partnership with a trained therapist. Together, you will carefully confront your intrusive thoughts and triggers, while resisting the urge to do compulsions to relieve anxiety.
I will admit that ERP was scary at first, but you have to put in the time to build up the courage and confidence to beat OCD. The key is to not look at ERP therapy as a short-term solution. Have faith that your efforts will bring success and help you to desensitize your OCD.
Kerry Osborn, Member Advocate
ERP is an ongoing process where you work your way toward addressing the most distressing fear. You’ll begin by confronting less intense triggers and gradually progress to more challenging situations. Over time, symptoms can get better and become more manageable as you learn to sit with uncertainty without having to perform rituals to feel safe or in control.
Kerry Osborn, a member advocate at NOCD, opened up about her personal experience with OCD, describing how it was dominated by intense compulsions that severely impacted her daily life, including making it impossible for her to shower or eat certain foods. Eventually, her symptoms became so debilitating she signed up for ERP.
“I will admit that ERP was scary at first, but you have to put in the time to build up the courage and confidence to beat OCD, ” says Osborn. “You’ll be uncomfortable for a short time. The key is to not look at ERP therapy as a short-term solution. Have faith that your efforts will bring success and help you to desensitize your OCD. Eventually, once you’ve finished ERP therapy, you can look back and see the improvement you’ve made, which benefits you more than merely seeking success from the beginning.”
Community discussions
Medication for OCD
In addition to ERP, medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), or atypical antipsychotics, may be added to your treatment plan.
However, it’s important to know that medication is not a shortcut or cure for OCD and actually works best when combined with therapy. A 2008 study found that a group that treated OCD with ERP and medication experienced three times the reduction in symptoms compared to the group who treated OCD with stress management training. Another study from 2005 showed that adult patients who received ERP—either on its own or a combination of ERP and medication—had better results than patients who solely received medication.
Your healthcare provider can help you determine whether or not medication makes sense for your treatment plan.
The importance of early intervention
Early intervention is crucial when it comes to managing OCD. The sooner you seek help, the sooner you can start addressing the symptoms.
If you are experiencing OCD symptoms, reaching out for support early on is key. Speaking with a mental health professional who specializes in OCD can help you get a diagnosis and start on the right track toward effective treatment.
“If you look at the NOCD community, you can see people who have gone through treatment and describe the work they’re doing,” Dr. McGrath says. “Look at our treatment conquerors and see people who are living their lives and not the life that OCD wants them to live anymore. People can be successful and have OCD at the same time.”
People can be successful and have OCD at the same time.
Dr. Patrick McGrath
Everyone’s OCD is different, and so, your treatment plan will be unique to you. For some, a combination of ERP and medication offers the best results, while others may find that therapy alone is enough. It’s important to know that there is help available, and you should reach out to a therapist who specializes in OCD to help guide your treatment. Even though there isn’t a steadfast cure for OCD, you can still overcome it effectively through ERP, regaining control of your life in a safe and proven manner.
Key Takeaways
- OCD cannot be “cured” or go away on its own. Instead, treatment like exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy can help to reduce the severity of symptoms by teaching you how to sit with intrusive thoughts without resorting to compulsions.
- Early intervention is important—seeking help as soon as symptoms appear can make treatment more effective and prevent OCD from worsening over time. If you think you might have OCD, you should reach out to a therapist who specializes in OCD treatment to ensure that you receive the most effective care.
- Medications like SSRIs, TCAs, or atypical antipsychotics work best when combined with ERP therapy to help manage OCD symptoms, not on their own.