But why do I have OCD? (Brain science!)

The good news…

You didn’t “give yourself” OCD.

You didn’t worry yourself into it, fail to cope with life well, or do anything at all to now be struggling with this disorder.

In fact, there is a lot of research that suggests that you were born with a predisposition to OCD.

What this means is that somewhere in your family tree, someone likely had OCD and passed it on to you.

(You can blame quirky great uncle Bob, or genetics in general, but please don’t blame yourself!).

In fact, studies show that if a parent has OCD, there is a one in four chance of that parent passing it down to their offspring.

So what exactly is happening in my brain?

I’m no neuroscientist, but we do have a lot of data that points to certain areas of the brain being involved when OCD is at play.

Three areas in particular (the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and the head of the caudate nucleus, if you really wanted to know) are more hyperactive than brains belonging to non-OCD sufferers.

This hyperactivity happens when someone with OCD is triggered by something, but is also present even in the absence of any triggers at all!

(The cool thing is that with the right treatment, this hyperactivity can be reversed with successful therapy and, in some cases, the right medication, which is super hopeful)

Compared to those who don’t have OCD, an OCD brain doesn’t tend to receive the same signals of completeness, certainty, or satisfaction. This is why people with OCD tend to repeat the same behavior or thought pattern over and over again. Their brain is much more anxious when it comes to feeling unsure about something.

I’ll say it again: this is not a moral failure, a personal weakness, or a lack of inner strength.

So how do I change my brain?!

Understand the OCD Cycle. OCD creates a loop:
Intrusive thought → Anxiety → Compulsion → Temporary relief → Reinforcement of OCD

ERP breaks this cycle by exposing you to fears without allowing compulsions, retraining your brain to tolerate uncertainty and anxiety.

Teach Your Brain That Anxiety is Not Dangerous
Every time you face a fear without performing a compulsion, your brain learns that anxiety naturally fades on its own.
This process, called habituation, reduces the brain’s overreaction to intrusive thoughts over time.

Weaken the "Threat Signal"
OCD overactivates the amygdala (the brain’s fear center). ERP helps rewire neural pathways, so your brain no longer treats intrusive thoughts as urgent threats.

Strengthen Cognitive Flexibility
ERP trains the prefrontal cortex (responsible for reasoning) to take control over the fear response.This builds tolerance for uncertainty and reduces the need for compulsions.

Repetition = Long-Term Change
The more exposures you do, the stronger these new brain pathways become.
Over time, your brain learns new habits, making it easier to dismiss OCD’s false alarms.

Key Takeaways:

✅ ERP rewires the brain by breaking the compulsion cycle.
✅ It reduces the brain’s fear response through repeated exposure.
✅ You build tolerance for discomfort, making OCD less powerful.
✅ Over time, your brain stops treating intrusive thoughts as threats.

Are you ready to reclaim your brain with proven treatment that works?
Take action now - your brain can change, and you deserve to live a life free from obsessions and compulsions.