‘I thought I was a monster… but it was my OCD’

• Key Takeaways for Clinical Practice
• OCD manifests with intrusive thoughts that patients may misinterpret as character flaws or dangerous impulses, highlighting the importance of distinguishing ego-dystonic obsessions from true desire to harm
• Patient education about the nature of OCD—that intrusive thoughts are a symptom, not a reflection of identity or intent—is essential for reducing shame and improving treatment engagement
• Early recognition and appropriate psychological intervention (typically CBT or ERP) can prevent unnecessary escalation to psychiatric assessment and improve patient outcomes and quality of life

'I thought I was a monster... but it was my OCD'

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