The Plot Twist I Never Saw Coming: Finding Out My “Normal” Was OCD
I was handed literature on OCD, PTSD, anxiety disorders, and evidence-based treatments. I dove in headfirst. Mental health had always been close to my heart because I had struggled with anxiety since I was a teenager. I knew what it felt like to be overwhelmed by your own mind.
But then something unexpected happened.
I started taking intake calls.
Every day, people courageously shared their fears, intrusive thoughts, symptoms, and struggles with me. As I listened, I kept finding myself thinking:
"Wait... doesn't everyone think that way?"
By Christina Zambrano
If you had told me ten years ago that I would someday be writing a blog about OCD treatment, I probably would have laughed and then immediately spent three hours mentally reviewing the conversation to make sure I didn't accidentally offend you.
Which, in hindsight, should have been a clue.
Before joining Stress and Anxiety Services, I worked as a floor nurse for seven years. Like many healthcare workers, I was used to organized chaos, long shifts, and functioning on caffeine and determination. Then COVID happened
My husband and I were both considered essential workers, and suddenly we found ourselves facing a dilemma familiar to so many families: Who was going to stay home with our middleschool-aged son while he attended virtual school?
That's when I was given an opportunity that would completely change my life: a work-from-home position as an Intake Coordinator at Stress and Anxiety Services.
At first, I was excited simply to be working from home. Then came the crash course.
I was handed literature on OCD, PTSD, anxiety disorders, and evidence-based treatments.
I dove in headfirst. Mental health had always been close to my heart because I had struggled with anxiety since I was a teenager. I knew what it felt like to be overwhelmed by your own mind.
But then something unexpected happened.
I started taking intake calls.
Every day, people courageously shared their fears, intrusive thoughts, symptoms, and struggles with me. As I listened, I kept finding myself thinking:
"Wait... doesn't everyone think that way?"
"I've had thoughts like that my whole life."
"That's not unusual... right?"
The more calls I took, the more uncomfortable I became.
Clients would describe exhausting mental rituals, endless reassurance-seeking, replaying conversations, checking their memories, analyzing every possibility, and getting stuck in loops of doubt. Meanwhile, I was sitting there thinking, "Well yes, obviously. Isn't that just what having a brain is?"
What I didn't realize was that I had spent years performing mental gymnastics worthy of a gold medal. My brain wasn't simply thinking, it was running marathons. Constantly. Every thought became an investigation. Every uncertainty became a problem to solve. Every "what if?" demanded immediate attention.
No wonder I was exhausted.
Eventually, I reached out to one of the psychologists I worked with.
"Hey," I asked casually, "is this normal anxiety... or is this OCD?"
I was genuinely surprised by the answer.
The truth was that these patterns had affected my life for years. They affected my relationships. They affected my peace of mind. They affected how much energy I had available for the people and things I loved.
Most of all, they were stealing time.
Time spent ruminating.
Time spent seeking certainty.
Time spent trying to solve problems that didn't actually need solving.
Once I understood what was happening, I knew I wanted treatment. As much as I adored the clinicians I worked with, ethical guidelines meant I couldn't become a client of my coworkers. So I did what I encourage many people to do: I researched therapists who specialized in OCD and were specifically trained in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy.
That distinction matters.
Not all therapists are trained to treat OCD. In fact, traditional talk therapy can sometimes unintentionally reinforce OCD symptoms because OCD isn't a problem of understanding your thoughts, it's a problem of how you respond to them. The gold-standard treatment for OCD is Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), a specialized form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) that helps people gradually face uncertainty and stop engaging in compulsions and mental rituals. Research consistently identifies ERP as the most effective first-line treatment for OCD.
Many structured ERP programs are completed in approximately 12–20 sessions, although treatment length varies depending on symptom severity and individual needs.
Now, I know what some people are thinking.
"Twelve sessions? That sounds expensive."
Maybe.
But let's compare it to the cost of OCD.
How much is it costing you to spend hours every day trapped in rumination?
How much is it costing your relationships?
Your confidence?
Your sleep?
Your ability to be present?
Your freedom?
ERP isn't easy. It's challenging work. But it is absolutely worth the investment.
For me, treatment wasn't about becoming a different person. It was about finally having room to breathe. It was about learning that I didn't have to answer every intrusive thought, solve every uncertainty, or obey every fear my brain presented.
And here's something many people don't realize: even if a provider is out-of-network, many clients are able to receive reimbursement through their out-of-network insurance benefits. It's worth checking your coverage because specialized treatment is often more accessible than people assume.
If you're reading this and recognizing yourself in my story, I want you to know something important:
Intrusive thoughts do not define you.
Anxiety does not define you.
OCD does not define you.
You are not weak because you're struggling. And you are not destined to spend the rest of your life trapped in exhausting cycles of fear, doubt, and mental review.
I spent years believing my experience was simply "normal." Years thinking everyone else's brain worked the way mine did.
It turns out there was another way to live.
A quieter way.
A freer way.
And if I could go back and tell my younger self one thing, it would be this:
You don't have to keep carrying this alone.
Help exists. Treatment works. Recovery is possible.
And the freedom waiting on the other side is worth every step.
4 Signs Your Child May Benefit From Therapy
Even though children's struggles may not always be visible, parents possess the deepest understanding of their own kids. Receiving support early on can significantly benefit both you and your child.
Here are four signs your child may benefit from therapy:
Even though children's struggles may not always be visible, parents possess the deepest understanding of their own kids. Receiving support early on can significantly benefit both you and your child.
Here are four signs your child may benefit from therapy:
School/Social Avoidance: Your child used to love leaving the house, but lately they have been avoiding things they used to enjoy. It can be worrying and frustrating when your child is refusing to go to school, withdrawing socially, or has an increase in “I don’t feel well” behaviors. If your child received medical clearance, it could be helpful to explore whether anxiety or past stress is playing a role.
According to Dr. Stacey Dobrinsky, “Avoidance of school and social activities are often a tell-tale sign that a child is struggling with anxiety. If, as a parent, you are noticing frequent somatic complaints, resistance to previously enjoyed activities, or constant fights to get your child to school in the morning, talking to a therapist might be helpful to your child.”
Repetitive Behaviors: If your child feels the need to repeat certain behaviors or routines, or often gets ‘stuck’ on certain thoughts or rituals, it may be helpful to reach out to a therapist who specializes in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, also known as OCD. You might notice things like:
Checking, counting, washing, redoing things
Asking the same question repeatedly
Needing things to feel “just right”
The What If’s: Toddlers and school-aged children, in particular, have an insatiable curiosity that drives them to ask many questions. They are quickly expanding and taking in all the surrounding information. Many of us have endured a car ride with our toddlers relentlessly peppering us with, "Why?" It's when the inquiries about "why" transition into hypothetical "what ifs" and spiral into catastrophic thinking that problems arise.
“What if you don’t pick me up?”
“What if something bad happens?”
Reassurance-seeking loops
“It’s helpful to notice your child’s response after you answer one of these questions. If you notice that they often seem unsatisfied by the answer, or ask the same question several more times (despite you already answering), this is often a sign of anxiety,” suggests Dr. Dobrinsky.
Struggling After Upsetting Events: When your child's emotions run high or they can't let go of something that occurred, it presents a significant challenge. Although they might struggle to articulate their experiences, you may observe indicators like:
Overreacting to reminders
Nightmares
Avoiding specific places/people
Sudden fear responses
If you notice these behaviors, it may be time to speak to a trained therapist who can help your child heal from upsetting events.