10/30/2025
Ever wonder why OCD feels like a never-ending loop?
OCD often follows a predictable cycle that can feel impossible to break — but understanding the pattern is the first step toward change.
Callie Kell, MA, LPC-MHSP, one of our counselors who works with OCD, shares her take on the cycle of OCD.
“This is a graphic I often use in sessions to help clients see what keeps OCD going.
The cycle usually looks something like this:
1️⃣ Trigger – something sparks an intrusive thought or worry.
2️⃣ Overestimation of Threat – the mind interprets the thought as dangerous or highly significant.
3️⃣ Spike in Anxiety – distress and urgency build quickly.
4️⃣ Compulsion – behaviors or mental rituals are used to reduce the anxiety.
5️⃣ Short-Term Relief – the anxiety drops for a bit, but the brain learns that compulsions “work,” which makes the cycle stronger over time and creates higher anxiety as the cycle continues and builds.”
Learning to recognize this pattern is a powerful step toward breaking free from it. With support, new tools, and practice, healing is possible. 💙
