Stuck in Your Own Head? It Might Be Pure OCD

What is Pure OCD? It’s Not Just Overthinking

When people hear “OCD,” they think about washing hands, checking doors, or needing things to be perfect. But there’s a type of OCD that’s totally different—one that happens inside your head.

It’s called Pure OCD, and instead of doing things physically, you get stuck in your thoughts. You might:

• Rewatch or reread something over and over to make sure you understood it.

• Say things out loud just to make sure they “make sense.”

• Write things down just to “get them out” of your head.

• Replay conversations in your mind to check if you said the right thing.

• Worry if people are mad at you and keep analyzing their reaction.

No matter how much you try to figure it out, it just keeps going.

In this article (and my video), I’ll explain:

• What Pure OCD really is.

• Why it happens and why it’s so hard to stop.

• What you can do to stop the cycle and feel better.

Pure OCD can be exhausting, but the good news is—you can get out of the cycle.

Why Does Pure OCD Happen?

Pure OCD isn’t just overthinking—it’s your brain getting stuck in a loop because it can’t tell the difference between a real problem and a fake one.

Your brain has a warning system that helps keep you safe. But in OCD, that system is too sensitive—it treats small, harmless thoughts like emergencies.

For example:

1. A random thought pops up.

2. Instead of ignoring it, your brain freaks out like it’s a big deal.

3. You try to ‘fix’ it by replaying, checking, or asking for reassurance.

4. That makes you feel better for a little while, but the thought always comes back.

What Keeps the OCD Cycle Going?

The thing that makes OCD stronger is compulsions.

Even though compulsions feel like they help, they actually teach your brain that the thought is important. The more you respond to OCD, the stronger it gets.

How to Stop OCD from Controlling You

The key to stopping OCD is to stop giving it attention.

OCD tricks you into thinking that if you just check one more time, you’ll finally feel better. But the truth is, the more you check, the worse it gets.

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) – The Best Way to Break Free

ERP is the best way to beat OCD. It works by letting thoughts come without reacting to them.

How to practice ERP:

• Notice the compulsion. (Example: Wanting to replay a conversation.)

• Don’t do it. (Let the thought be there without responding.)

• Allow the discomfort. (It feels bad at first, but it gets easier.)

The goal isn’t to get rid of the thoughts—it’s to change how you react to them. The less you engage, the weaker OCD becomes.

You Are Not Your Thoughts – Recovery is Possible

If you have Pure OCD, you are not alone. Millions of people experience the same obsessive thought loops, the same anxiety, and the same need for certainty. But OCD thrives on fear and doubt—and once you stop feeding it, you take back your power.

Here’s what to remember:

• You don’t have to figure out every thought. Let them be there without reacting.

• Resisting compulsions is the key to freedom. The less you engage, the weaker OCD

becomes.

• Recovery takes time, but it is possible. The more you practice sitting with uncertainty, the more your brain learns that it doesn’t need to react.

If you’re looking for more help, therapy (especially Exposure and Response Prevention - ERP) can make a huge difference. And if you want to hear me explain this in my own words watch my video here down below!

📌 Watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/nm6xRVsu-R0?si=D3z3qACKx8gZ5OT_

You are more than your thoughts. You are stronger than OCD. And you are not alone.