All articles tagged with #ocd
Many women misidentify Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) as generalized anxiety, leading to incorrect treatment. While both conditions share symptoms like worry and tension, OCD is characterized by intrusive thoughts and repetitive rituals, whereas anxiety focuses on future-oriented fear. Accurate diagnosis is critical for effective therapy, as treatments differ significantly between the two disorders.
Howie Mandel’s daughter, Jackelyn Shultz, posted a TikTok video showing her father standing near a burning vehicle outside a Food4Less store. Shultz warned Mandel that the car could explode if it contained gas, but he continued recording the fire on his phone. Moments later, the vehicle erupted in flames behind him. The clip has accumulated 1.2 million views and sparked widespread concern from viewers, particularly regarding a man standing nearby who appeared too close to the explosion. Mandel, 70, was seen wearing blue overalls and holding a canned beverage during the incident. The incident highlights his well-known obsessive-compulsive disorder and germaphobia, which he has previously discussed in public forums and on his podcast with Shultz.
Howie Mandel’s daughter, Jackelyn Shultz, posted a video on TikTok showing her father standing near a burning vehicle outside a Food4Less store. Shultz warned Mandel that the car could explode if it contained gas, but he continued recording the fire on his phone. Moments later, the vehicle erupted in flames behind him. The clip has accumulated 1.2 million views and sparked widespread concern from viewers, particularly regarding a man standing nearby who appeared too close to the explosion. Mandel, 70, was seen wearing blue overalls and holding a canned beverage during the incident. The incident highlights his well-known obsessive-compulsive disorder and germaphobia, which he has previously discussed in public forums and on his podcast with Shultz.
A large Nature Neuroscience study analyzed exome data from roughly 4,000 individuals with OCD and/or chronic tic disorders (CTD) and found 36 high-impact risk genes, with substantial overlap between OCD and CTD and links to autism and schizophrenia. The researchers mapped these genes to brain circuits, notably the cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical loop, showing prenatal and postnatal expression in the cortex, striatum, thalamus, and cerebellum, and suggesting networks of genes rather than single culprits. This expanded set of targets could guide future therapies tailored to neural pathways across neurodevelopmental conditions.
Rutgers-led exome study of nearly 4,000 individuals with OCD/CTD identifies 36 high-risk genes (average ~57× risk, up to 210×), greatly expanding the known set and revealing shared genetics with autism and schizophrenia. Risk genes are active prenatally and postnatally in cortex, striatum, thalamus and cerebellum, especially in cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical circuits, suggesting networks as therapeutic targets and underscoring the value of long-running family DNA data. Published in Nature Neuroscience 2026.
Howie Mandel disclosed on Hoda Kotb’s Joy 101 podcast that his OCD and ADHD contributed to self-medicating with prescription meds and gummies to sleep during the COVID-19 pandemic, with times when his wife feared for his health; he later escalated to smoking and drinking to escape, but is now sober, medicated, and in therapy, using distraction to cope with persistent anxious thoughts.
Early romantic love activates brain patterns similar to OCD, with serotonin dropping and dopamine surging, creating an intense phase that research places at roughly 12–18 months. The chemistry fades toward baseline, but that isn’t a betrayal—it's part of a transition toward lasting bonding and cooperative, long-term connection that goes beyond what scans can capture.
Jim Parsons reveals that his ascent to stardom came with emotional misery, driven by OCD-like discipline and relentless stress that left him unhappy even at career peaks. He says the approach paid off professionally but cost him happiness, and he wouldn’t repeat it for any amount of money, though he concedes it shaped who he is today. He also doubts a Big Bang Theory reboot and notes he still carries traits of Sheldon while continuing work in film, TV, and Broadway.
New mothers can face several mental health conditions in the year after birth beyond postpartum depression, including adjustment disorder, OCD, PTSD, bipolar disorder, postpartum psychosis, and suicidal thoughts. Screening and a multimodal treatment approach (psychotherapy plus medications like SSRIs) are tailored to symptom severity, with sleep and social support playing key roles in recovery. Early mood optimization during pregnancy lowers risk, and credible resources such as Postpartum Support International and womensmentalhealth.org are recommended to counter misinformation and guide care.
Howie Mandel reveals that as a child a sand fly laid larvae under his skin, an ordeal that was worsened when doctors publicly displayed him at a Toronto dermatology convention. The traumatic experience and painful treatments contributed to his lifelong OCD and germophobia, highlighting the need for empathetic, patient-centered care and self-advocacy in medical settings.
Moral OCD, or moral scrupulosity, is a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder where intrusive thoughts center on being immoral or a “bad person,” causing guilt, rumination, and distress. People may engage in reassurance-seeking, “undoing” behaviors, or thought-action fusion to quell the fear, and it can disrupt daily life. Treatment typically involves exposure and response prevention (ERP), sometimes with medication, and finding a provider trained in OCD is crucial since regular talk therapy alone can worsen OCD.
Moral OCD is a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder centered on intrusive worries about being a 'bad' person. It drives compulsions like reassurance-seeking, rumination, and undoing behaviors in a bid for certainty, often disrupting daily life and social belonging. Effective treatment typically uses exposure and response prevention (ERP), sometimes with medication, and requires a mental-health professional with OCD expertise.
Noah Kahan discusses his new album The Great Divide, produced with Aaron Dessner, as a personal chronicle of fame, mental health, and creative renewal. After a difficult Joshua Tree period and an OCD diagnosis, he and collaborators shaped a record rooted in Vermont life and intimate storytelling; the album features Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 as he navigates balancing public life with private boundaries and his Busyhead Project.
Kobe University researchers mapped a thalamus-to-insular pathway linking the basal ganglia to the insular cortex in mice, a circuit that could explain why Tourette's tics overlap with OCD and other neuropsychiatric conditions. Blocking this thalamus-to-insular connection reduced tic-like movements, suggesting a potential target for less invasive treatments such as ultrasound neuromodulation, though results in humans are not yet established and deep brain stimulation remains a current option.
The piece explains that intrusive thoughts—unwanted, distressing mental images or ideas—are common, but for some people they can become obsessive and lead to compulsions characteristic of OCD, which often begins in puberty. It notes potential genetic and early-life stress links, underscores that most people can dismiss these thoughts, and offers coping tips like labeling thoughts, visualizing OCD as separate, maintaining self-care, and seeking professional help when thoughts become persistent or disabling.