Before leaving the house, you check if the stove is off. You check the locks, then check them again. At work, you reread the same email ten times before sending it, terrified that one small mistake will cause disaster. Deep down, you know the stove is off and the email is fine, but the urge to double-check feels impossible to resist. This is the hidden face of obsessive-compulsive disorder, better known as OCD.

In counselling, I remember speaking with Daniel (name changed) who described the endless cycle of checking. “I know it looks strange,” he admitted, “but if I do not check, my mind screams that something bad will happen. At work, I spend so much time rereading things that I fall behind. At home, I sometimes go back three or four times to check the locks. It is exhausting, but the worry never stops.” His story captured the quiet torment of OCD, logic says everything is fine but fear demands endless repetition.

OCD is not only about being neat or organized, as it is often misunderstood. It is about intrusive thoughts that create overwhelming anxiety, followed by compulsions, rituals or behaviors meant to relieve that anxiety. For some, it is checking. For others, it may be cleaning, counting, arranging or repeating certain actions. What looks like habit on the outside is often an attempt to silence relentless inner fear.

The inner dialogue of OCD might sound like: If I do not check, something terrible will happen. If I miss even one detail, I will be responsible. What if I cannot stop these thoughts? These questions replay again and again, creating a loop that feels impossible to escape.

There are practical ways to begin managing OCD. One helpful approach is response prevention, delaying or reducing the compulsion gradually. For example, instead of checking the lock five times, reduce it to four, then three and so on. Daniel began practicing this with support, learning that nothing bad happened when he resisted the urge. Over time, this helped him regain a sense of control.

Another effective strategy is grounding through mindfulness. When intrusive thoughts arrive, acknowledging them without judgment and gently redirecting attention to the present can reduce their intensity. Simple breathing exercises or even naming what you see and hear around you, can interrupt the endless cycle of checking.

OCD is not about weakness or lack of willpower, it is about the brain seeking certainty in an uncertain world. With support, strategies and patience, the cycle can be broken and life can feel less controlled by fear.

You do not have to carry this alone. Support is available, and taking the first step can change everything. Visit www.drkaranvirsingh.com and book your free 20-minute session today.