When OCD and Trauma Overlap: It’s Not Just About Anxiety
One thing I wish more people understood is that OCD isn’t always about anxiety or things that you fear. It’s often much sneakier-and for a lot of people, including myself, it’s deeply tied to past experiences. Sometimes trauma.
When I first started healing from OCD, I realized it wasn’t just anxiety that was driving my thoughts…it was shame. Guilt. Old stuff I had never made peace with. My OCD latched onto those things like my dog with her squeaky toy.
When OCD Hooks into the Past
If you have OCD and a history of trauma, you might find yourself obsessing over things that already happened:
● "What if that thing that happened to me happens again, I need to stay hyper-vigalent"
● “I can’t forgive myself for what I said, I need to keep saying I’m sorry until it feels right”
● "What if I’m remembering it wrong? I need to replay my memories over and over again"
These aren’t random thoughts. They’re connected to real wounds. OCD just distorts them into mental loops that never resolve.
Why Traditional Approaches Sometimes Miss the Mark
Standard exposure therapy can be helpful, but if the root of your OCD is tangled up in trauma, we have to address both. Otherwise, you’re doing exposure for fears that are rooted in pain that hasn’t been processed and OCD is latching onto an experience that still is negatively impacting you in the present.
That’s why I integrate EMDR, ICBT, and somatic work. We untangle the doubt, rebuild your sense of reality, and start making space for trust again—not just in your thoughts, but in yourself.
You can read more about how I work on my OCD therapy, trauma therapy, and EMDR therapy pages.
Closing Thoughts
If you’ve tried exposure therapy and it didn’t stick, or if you’re tired of feeling like no one gets the whole picture, you’re not alone. OCD and trauma often go hand in hand, and healing means addressing the overlap, not necessarily choosing one over the other.
I offer a blend of approaches that see all of you. If that sounds like something you’ve been searching for, check out my OCD therapy or trauma therapy pages.
And if you’re an organization looking to support your team’s mental health, I offer trauma-informed, nervous-system-based corporate wellness coaching for professionals who need more than surface-level self-care. Let’s create real support systems that actually make a difference.
