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Living With OCD

2025/6/10
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Short Wave

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Chapters
This chapter defines OCD, clarifies its prevalence, and challenges common misconceptions. It highlights the diversity of OCD manifestations beyond stereotypical handwashing or symmetry obsessions, using real-life examples.
  • Roughly 163 million people worldwide experience OCD.
  • OCD involves cycles of obsessions (intrusive thoughts, images, or urges) and compulsions (behaviors to reduce distress).
  • Media often portrays limited aspects of OCD, neglecting its diverse manifestations.

Shownotes Transcript

Roughly 163 million people experience obsessive-compulsive disorder) and its associated cycles of obsessions and compulsions. They have unwanted intrusive thoughts, images or urges; they also do certain behaviors to decrease the distress caused by these thoughts. In movies and TV, characters with OCD are often depicted washing their hands or obsessing about symmetry. Dr. Carolyn Rodriguez) says these are often symptoms of OCD, but they're not the only ways it manifests – and there's still a lot of basics we have yet to understand. That's why, in this encore episode, Carolyn looks to include more populations in research and find new ways to treat OCD. If you're interested in potentially participating in Dr. Rodriguez's OCD studies, you can email [email protected]) or call 650-723-4095._*Questions about the brain? Email us at [email protected]) – we'd love to hear your ideas for a future episode!Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave).*Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices)NPR Privacy Policy)