Arrow Counseling Services- Tupelo MS

05/22/2026

05/19/2026

OCD and OCPD get confused constantly because on the surface, they can both involve perfectionism, control, routines, rigidity, and high internal standards. But clinically, they are not the same thing, and understanding the difference matters.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is an anxiety-based disorder driven by intrusive, unwanted thoughts and compulsions performed to reduce distress or prevent feared outcomes. The behaviors are usually ego-dystonic, meaning the person recognizes the thoughts or rituals as irrational, excessive, or inconsistent with how they actually want to live. The experience often feels exhausting, distressing, and frightening.

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder, on the other hand, is a longstanding personality pattern centered around perfectionism, control, order, structure, and rigidity. The traits are often ego-syntonic, meaning they can feel correct, justified, productive, or morally “right” to the person experiencing them, even when they create strain in relationships, flexibility, or overall wellbeing.

One of the biggest misconceptions is assuming OCD is just “liking things clean” or that OCPD is simply “being organized.” In reality, both conditions can significantly impact a person’s quality of life, identity, relationships, stress levels, and ability to function.

Mental health language deserves nuance. Two people can appear similar from the outside while experiencing completely different internal worlds. 🧠

***Please note that a person can have BOTH OCPD and OCD, as the conditions are not mutually exclusive.***

05/18/2026

The sneaky compulsions don't look like compulsions, they look like being careful, being thorough, being a responsible person who just wants to be sure.

Nobody told you that counted. In fact, come to think of it.. your brain has been this way your whole life. So you always did it, you keep doing it, and you had no idea it was a thing. Now you're stuck and you don't even know why.

Lucky for you, I spent almost a decade at residential treatment literally hunting these compulsions for a living. Like a compulsion bloodhound except with a license and hopefully less smelly. This is literally what I do for a living, it's all I do, and I love it.

I've been doing this since 2008. The subtle stuff is almost always the thing in OCD and anxiety. And May 26th is where we get into it.

Comment or DM me the word THIRTY and I'll send you a link to learn more.

05/17/2026

05/15/2026

As you heal, you become more self-aware. You realize that certain beliefs you had are not actually true. You realize that behaviours that may have served you at some point are maladaptive now. You realize that there is a thing called ego that comes in the way of vulnerability and connection. What else would you add here?

I created a similar ‘reminder card’ with a patient a few weeks ago and I thought it might be helpful to share it (with some tweaks) on social media. If you find reminders helpful, I encourage you to save this post to come back to it later.

Take care of your mind and body. Love, Nawal ♥️

05/13/2026

05/12/2026

For Mental Health Awareness Week, I’m sharing six reminders that have genuinely helped many people feel lighter and more grounded.
Small mindset shifts — speaking up, showing yourself care, letting go of harsh self‑judgment, and honouring your feelings — can make a real difference.
This week, let’s choose compassion over criticism and make space for healthier inner conversations.

05/12/2026

That thing that’s consuming your whole world right now? In a year, it’ll be a dot.

Your mind registers threat in proportion to how close it is. Today, that experience feels enormous because your mind is actively processing it, building meaning around it, running the same loop to try to resolve it. That’s your mind doing exactly what it was designed to do. 🧠💥

The research is clear: perception of an experience shifts as it moves out of the active processing window. What feels urgent today becomes background data. What feels catastrophic now gets filed.

You don’t have to wait a year to feel differently. But it helps to know that you will.

Send this to someone who’s in the middle of a hard week. 🫂

05/12/2026

When asked about his daughter Katherine's death, Martin Short gave a very nuanced answer about her fight with mental health.