Many people think, "If I didn’t have OCD, my life would have been peaceful. Why did this monster show up in my life?" This thought crosses every sufferer’s mind—it certainly crossed mine.
We often believe that if we could just figure out the "root cause" of our OCD, we would somehow escape it. But here is the hard truth: That entire line of thinking is a compulsion in disguise.
Trying to solve why OCD started will not lead you to recovery. In fact, it often drags you deeper into the cycle. It is one of the biggest traps the disorder sets, and because it feels so logical, we rarely notice it.
A Real-World Example: The Finnish Student
One of my clients from Mexico developed OCD in his late teens. Growing up, he heard about gang wars and local crimes almost daily. One day, after watching an intense news segment, an intrusive thought hit him: "What if I become a criminal? What if I hurt my family?"
That fear latched on. The news became a constant trigger, and his OCD cycle began.
Fast forward eight years: he is now studying in Finland—a place with no gang wars and no mafia news. Yet, the obsession remains. Why?
Because OCD was never about the news. It was always about how he responded to the fear.
For eight years, he engaged in compulsions: mentally checking his character, avoiding certain shows, and seeking reassurance. Those behaviors are what kept the OCD alive long after the original environmental trigger disappeared.
The Cognitive Trap of "Why"
In psychology, this is often linked to prolonged rumination. When we ask "Why?", we are looking for a sense of certainty that the brain can use to feel safe. However, OCD is a disorder of doubt; it will never accept your "Why" as a final answer. If you decide it was childhood stress, the brain will ask, "But what if it's genetic?" If you decide it's genetic, the brain asks, "But what if I actually want these thoughts?"
The Solution: Focus on the Fuel, Not the Spark
The spark started the fire years ago, but the fuel is what is burning right now.
Identify the Fuel: Obsessing over the past won't solve anything. Instead, ask: "What am I doing right now that is fueling this anxiety?"
Cut the Compulsions: Recovery is found in the present moment by identifying and stopping the rituals—whether they are physical actions or mental arguments.
Break the Pattern: You don't need to understand the history of a glitch to stop clicking the button that triggers it.
Recovery isn’t about solving the past; it’s about breaking the present patterns.
Up Next: How to Identify Subtle Compulsions
By your coach, Kartikey
