Living with Just Right OCD often feels like an endless cycle of fixing, repeating, or adjusting until things finally “feel right.” But the relief is short-lived, and the discomfort soon returns. Unlike perfectionism, this isn’t about wanting things neat or flawless it’s about battling an overwhelming sense of incompleteness that can make daily life exhausting. The good news? With the right treatment, you can break free from the cycle and find peace.

“Do I really have OCD, or is this just anxiety?” If you’ve asked yourself this question, you’re not alone. While OCD and anxiety share similarities racing thoughts, worry, and a restless body they show up differently in the brain. OCD creates intrusive, sticky doubts that trigger compulsions, while anxiety tends to focus on real-life stressors and physical symptoms. In this post, we’ll break down the neuroscience, the signs of each, and how therapy can help you find clarity and relief.

Intrusive thoughts are not a reflection of who you are. Brain scans in OCD show that overactive fear and error-detection circuits make these thoughts feel “sticky” and hard to dismiss. With evidence-based treatment like Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), the brain can relearn how to handle uncertainty and quiet the alarm system. At Ember & Oak Counseling in Columbus, Ohio, I help women break free from intrusive thoughts and find peace.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder doesn’t always look like handwashing or checking locks—sometimes it shows up as painful doubts about your identity or relationships. HOCD (Sexual Orientation OCD) and ROCD (Relationship OCD) cause intrusive, unwanted thoughts that leave people questioning who they are and whether they’re with the “right” partner. These fears aren’t signs of truth—they’re symptoms of OCD. In this post, we’ll explore what HOCD and ROCD are, how they overlap, and why evidence-based treatment like Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) can help you find relief.

Relationship OCD (ROCD) can make you feel stuck in endless doubt about your partner or your choices. Exposure and response prevention (ERP) helps you list your fears, identify compulsions, build a fear hierarchy, and practice stepping closer to uncertainty without reassurance. At Ember & Oak Counseling in Columbus, Ohio, I guide women through this process so they can break free from ROCD and live with more peace and confidence.

Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs) like trichotillomania (hair pulling) and skin picking often feel impossible to stop and can overlap with OCD. The cycle of urges, relief, and shame is overwhelming, but there are evidence-based treatments that work. At Ember & Oak Counseling in Columbus, Ohio, I help women break free from BFRBs with compassion and proven strategies so they can feel confident and in control again.

Are you terrified of throwing up or seeing others get sick? You may be experiencing emetophobia, the intense fear of vomiting. This phobia can cause anxiety, food avoidance, and even panic in social situations. Learn what emetophobia is, why it happens, and how therapy can help you manage the fear of vomiting and reclaim your life -written by a Columbus Ohio OCD and anxiety therapist.

When you live with OCD, it’s easy to get stuck believing the worst-case scenario thoughts your brain throws at you. But here’s the truth: not every thought is real. The amygdala—sometimes called the “dumb vagus”—is wired for fear and protection, not truth or nuance. That’s why intrusive thoughts feel so alarming. In this post, you’ll learn why you don’t need to argue with your amygdala, and how simple tools like breathing and mindful awareness can help you calm intrusive thoughts and move forward with less fear.

Looking for an OCD specialist in Columbus, Ohio? At Ember & Oak Counseling, I provide in-person ERP therapy—the gold-standard treatment for OCD—helping you break free from intrusive thoughts and compulsions with compassionate, evidence-based care.

Struggling with intrusive thoughts or compulsive behaviors? At Ember & Oak Counseling in Columbus, Ohio, I specialize in OCD treatment using Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), the gold-standard therapy for lasting relief. Offering in-person sessions in Worthington and virtual therapy across Ohio, I help women break free from the cycle of OCD and reclaim peace of mind.

Everyone has random, odd thoughts now and then — but for people with OCD, intrusive thoughts feel terrifying, sticky, and impossible to dismiss. Unlike normal anxiety, OCD intrusive thoughts are often taboo, against your values, and fueled by brain differences that over-detect danger and demand certainty. In this post, we’ll explore what intrusive thoughts really are, how OCD brains process them differently, and how to tell the difference between OCD and everyday anxiety.

Looking for an OCD therapist in Columbus, Ohio? At Ember & Oak Counseling, I specialize in evidence-based treatment for OCD and anxiety using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). Whether you’re seeking in-person sessions in Worthington or virtual therapy anywhere in Ohio, I provide compassionate, judgment-free support to help you break free from intrusive thoughts and find peace.

Feeling the Sunday Scaries? Learn 5 therapist-approved tools to calm anxiety before Monday—from unique techniques like havening touch and sensory grounding to practical resets for your racing thoughts. Written by an Ohio anxiety therapist, this post offers science-backed strategies and local support if Sunday night dread won’t go away.

Learn quick, proven techniques to calm your body and mind during a panic attack from an Ohio-based therapist. This guide covers simple breathing exercises, grounding strategies, and mindset shifts to help you regain control whether you’re at home, work, or in public. Practical tips for managing anxiety and panic from a licensed therapist serving Columbus, Worthington, and all of Ohio.

Learn how to gently encourage a loved one to consider therapy and find the right therapist in Ohio. This guide shares compassionate conversation tips, practical ways to help with the search process, and local mental health resources in Columbus, Worthington, and across Ohio including crisis support options.

Struggling with constant doubts about your relationship? Relationship OCD (ROCD) is more than normal uncertainty — it’s an exhausting cycle of intrusive thoughts, anxiety, and reassurance-seeking that can leave you questioning your partner and yourself. In this post, learn the signs of ROCD, how it’s different from typical relationship anxiety, and the proven therapy that helps break the cycle. Serving clients in Worthington, Columbus, and virtually across Ohio, Ember & Oak Counseling offers specialized OCD treatment so you can find clarity and peace in your relationship.

Searching for the best anxiety therapist in Columbus, Ohio? Discover exactly what to look for, from therapy methods to the right personal fit so you can start feeling better sooner.