Feeling like you need to share every detail of your intrusive thoughts?

Feeling like you need to share every detail of your intrusive thoughts? It might be compulsive confessing.

Confession is a sneaky OCD compulsion because it can be hard to differentiate from healthy sharing. If you’re struggling to tell them apart, look at the intention behind the sharing: Healthy sharing tends to be motivated by a desire for support or understanding, while compulsive confession tends to be rooted in anxiety, fear, and shame.

Confessing may provide some momentary relief, but in the long run, it only makes OCD worse. The good news is that like every compulsion, it’s treatable. You can learn to resist the urge to confess and tolerate discomfort, even if you have lingering doubts about being “perfectly honest.” Download the NOCD app to learn more.