The other day, I had a CLASSIC OCD moment. I was walking home from Bloomingdale’s on 59th Street, braving the freezing cold, when I reached into my pocket for my gloves. As I did, I heard something hit the ground. Looking down, I saw my Burt’s Bees chapstick… or was it?
The OCD Spiral Begins
Immediately, my brain started doing mental gymnastics:
Did this just fall out of my pocket?
Or was this already on the ground, and I just happened to hear something plastic drop at that exact moment?
The funny thing is, I instantly knew this was an OCD moment because I grabbed my phone and started recording my thoughts out loud.
@presentlybracelets This one moment had such subtle signs of OCD, that I barely even recognized it myself.. so naturally I recorded it 🙃 #ocdtok #ocd #ocdtiktok #ocdawareness #pov #therapytok #nyc #mentalhealthtiktoks ♬ original sound - Presently_Bracelets
What Makes This OCD?
Someone without OCD would likely pick up the chapstick without a second thought. But for me, uncertainty triggered anxiety, which led to compulsions—just not the kind you might expect.
OCD isn’t always about visible behaviors like flipping light switches or excessive hand washing. Compulsions can also be mental, and for me, that’s 99% of how my OCD presents itself.
What Are Mental Compulsions?
Before we get into that, let’s take a step back. OCD is a cycle of obsessions (intrusive thoughts that cause anxiety) and compulsions (actions, either physical or mental, to relieve anxiety).
Mental compulsions can be:
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Replaying conversations or events in your head to make sure you didn’t miss anything
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Repeating certain words or phrases in your mind to feel calm or “right”
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Imagining a calming or protective image to undo anxious thoughts
Physical compulsions can be:
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Flicking light switches over and over just to make sure they’re off
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Washing your hands multiple times, even when they’re already clean
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Constantly straightening or rearranging things around you so they feel just right
(For a deeper dive into OCD’s mechanisms, check out this article on the obsession-compulsion cycle.)
The Chapstick Example: Breaking It Down
My OCD took over in that moment. The obsession, or fear, was that I might be using the wrong chapstick and could get sick. To relieve that anxiety, my compulsion was to convince myself that this had to be my chapstick.
💭 “What if this isn’t my chapstick? If I use it, I could get sick.”
Train of Thought:
➡️ I need to be 100% sure it’s mine.
➡️ What if I just heard something drop, but it wasn’t actually my chapstick?
➡️ Maybe I should check the label, the amount left, and my pockets…
➡️ Ugh, I still don’t feel sure. I should just throw it away and buy a new one to be safe.
What Happens Next?
🚨 Relief… but only for a moment.
➡️ Later: “Wait… what if I grabbed the wrong chapstick at the store? What if someone used it before me?”
➡️ The cycle starts over—more checking, more doubt, more compulsions.
How does OCD differ from normal overthinking?
If we take the same scenario and imagine I did not have OCD, it would look something like this:
💭 “Did that just fall from my pocket? Eh, probably.”
Train of Thought:
➡️ Looks like my chapstick, seems fine.
➡️ Ugh, whatever. I’ll just get a new one later to be safe.
What Happens Next?
✔️ The thought is gone within seconds.
✔️ No lingering anxiety.
✔️ No compulsions.
The Right Response to OCD
In a perfect world, I wouldn’t have engaged in any of these compulsions. But I’ll be the first to admit—I’m not perfect. The thoughts still crept in. The difference? I didn’t throw the chapstick away.
Why does that matter? Because avoiding the discomfort would have strengthened my OCD. Each time you give in to a compulsion, you reinforce the cycle. And it doesn’t stop at chapstick—it extends to every other uncertainty OCD latches onto.
How to Stop OCD Thoughts
If you feel like OCD is controlling your life, here’s my message to you: Practice, practice, practice.
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Practice catching compulsions when they start.
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Practice sitting with anxiety instead of trying to escape it.
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Practice reminding yourself that OCD is just an outsider trying to make you doubt your gut.
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I’ve been in therapy for over seven years, and without it, I would’ve thrown out that chapstick. The key is learning to tolerate uncertainty instead of giving OCD what it wants. And with time, you’ll get better at resisting the urge to check, analyze, and seek reassurance.
Want to learn more? Here are some great resources:
You are not alone. OCD might make you question everything, but you are stronger than your doubts.
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