While there are no pressure points that cure OCD, acupressure points like Neiguan (PC6) (inner wrist) and points on the head, hands, and feet can help manage anxiety and stress associated with OCD, working best alongside evidence-based treatments like psychotherapy (ERP) and medication. Acupressure aims to calm the nervous system, but it's a complementary technique, not a standalone cure for the underlying condition.
Natural remedies, including St. John's wort, milk thistle, n-acetylcholine, 5-HTP, inositol, and kava, have shown mixed or limited results in studies for reducing OCD symptoms. Always talk to your doctor before trying natural remedies for OCD to avoid potential side effects and interactions.
The common acupoints of acupuncture and moxibustion for the treatment of OCD are as follows: Baihui (DU20), Yintang (EX-HN3), Taiyang (EX-HN5), Neiguan (PC6), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Jiaji (EX-B2), and so on.
Look after yourself
In summary, mindfulness and meditation can play a significant role in managing OCD thoughts. By fostering present moment awareness and a nonjudgmental attitude towards thoughts, these practices help break the cycle of obsessive thinking and compulsive behaviors, contributing to overall well-being and mental health.
The 15-Minute Rule for OCD is a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) technique where you delay performing a compulsion for 15 minutes when an obsessive thought triggers anxiety, allowing the urge to lessen naturally as you practice exposure and response prevention (ERP). It teaches your brain that discomfort decreases without the ritual, building resilience and breaking the obsessive-compulsive cycle by gradually increasing tolerance for uncertainty and distressing feelings.
In fact, neuroimaging studies have shown that CBT for OCD changes brain activity in the same way as medication but is more effective, has no risk of drug side-effects, and has a much lower relapse rate. The foundation of CBT for OCD involves a method called exposure and response (or ritual) prevention (ERP).
There isn't one single "hardest" OCD, but treatment-resistant OCD (when standard therapies like Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) fail) and types with deeply distressing, taboo themes like Harm OCD, Sexual Orientation OCD (SO-OCD), and Primarily Obsessional OCD (PO-OCD) are often considered among the most challenging due to their intensity, shame, and disruption to life. These often involve intrusive thoughts of violence, forbidden sexual acts, or religious blasphemy, leading to severe anxiety and difficulty engaging in treatment, with severe cases sometimes requiring advanced interventions like TMS, DBS, or residential care.
An OCD attack can feel like a storm of intense emotions and physical sensations. The person may experience physical symptoms, such as sweating, shaking, and rapid heartbeat. These symptoms may be accompanied with obsessive thoughts, intrusive thoughts, and an urge to engage in compulsions.
Experts aren't sure of the exact cause of OCD. Genetics, brain abnormalities, and the environment are thought to play a role. It often starts in the teens or early adulthood.
The forbidden points—LI4, SP6, BL60, GB21, and CV3—are traditionally avoided during pregnancy due to their potential to induce labor or stimulate strong physiological reactions. Always consult with a healthcare professional before using acupressure to ensure both the safety of the mother and the baby.
Find the spot right between your eyebrows, above the bridge of your nose. Gently massage the spot, using small circular motions. Between the thumb and index finger. The webbing between thumb and index finger contains a stress-relieving pressure point.
Several psychiatric disorders have been associated with vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency, such as mood disorders and obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). Vitamin B12 and folic acid play a crucial role in the carbon transfer metabolism that is necessary to produce serotonin.
How to Deal with Obsessive Thoughts: 7 Tips
Vitamin B12 and folate are thought to be effective in OCD treatment due to their associations with neurotransmitters. Depending on their antioxidant effect, zinc and selenium can be used in augmentation therapy for OCD. However, both trace elements and vitamin B12/folate can be affected by diet.
The 15-Minute Rule for OCD is a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) technique where you delay performing a compulsion for 15 minutes when an obsessive thought triggers anxiety, allowing the urge to lessen naturally as you practice exposure and response prevention (ERP). It teaches your brain that discomfort decreases without the ritual, building resilience and breaking the obsessive-compulsive cycle by gradually increasing tolerance for uncertainty and distressing feelings.
There are a variety of conditions that have obsessive compulsive disorder qualities that are quite similar to OCD such as PANDAS, body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), hoarding disorder, trichotillomania, compulsive skin picking, hypochondria, and olfactory reference syndrome.
Severe OCD is also marked by compulsive behaviors or compulsive rituals that people do to try to ease anxiety. These can include excessive handwashing, checking and rechecking behaviors, counting, repeating words or phrases, or arranging objects in a specific manner.
Psychotherapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a type of psychotherapy, is effective for many people with OCD . Exposure and response prevention (ERP), a part of CBT therapy, involves exposing you over time to a feared object or obsession, such as dirt. Then you learn ways not to do your compulsive rituals.
OCD can affect men, women and children. People can start having symptoms from as early as 6 years old, but it often begins around puberty and early adulthood. OCD can be distressing and significantly interfere with your life, but treatment can help you keep it under control.
Overall, OCD episodes can be triggered by a variety of factors, including stress, biological influences, environmental triggers, and psychological factors. Understanding these triggers is essential in managing and treating OCD effectively.
Key Points: Magnesium (especially glycinate) is one of the most common mineral deficiencies in people with ADHD, OCD, and tics. Replenishing magnesium can take months, and many forms (except poorly absorbed ones like magnesium oxide) can be helpful.
AsianScientist (Mar. 26, 2025) – A group of researchers from South Korea has shown that a new non-invasive procedure, called magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) capsulotomy can potentially help in treating Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
Some theories suggest that OCD may be caused by something physical in our body or brain. These are sometimes called biological factors. Some biological theories suggest that a lack of the brain chemical serotonin may have a role in OCD.