NOCD

Howie Mandel didn’t plan on becoming one of the most recognizable advocates for OCD awareness. In a recent Fortune feature, Howie reflected on the panic attack that led him to unexpectedly disclose his OCD on air. Afterward, a stranger approached him and said, “I just heard you on Stern. Me too.” For someone who had spent decades struggling in silence, those words helped him realize he wasn’t alone. “It was the first time I connected with somebody else. It was the first comfort I got, which I didn’t have for 40-some odd years.” Since then, Howie has helped millions better understand what OCD actually looks like. Through his partnership with NOCD, he’s helped raise awareness about OCD, dispel stereotypes, reduce stigma, and connect more people with information about accessing evidence-based treatment. According to Howie, many actors, musicians, athletes, and other public figures have reached out privately over the years after recognizing themselves in his PSA’s with NOCD. Billy Bob Thornton was one of them. After seeing Howie’s KnowOCD campaign, he opened up about his own experience with OCD. This is a powerful reminder of what can happen when someone shares their story: it helps others recognize what they’re experiencing and realize they aren’t alone. And recognizing symptoms is the first step towards getting the right help. After being misdiagnosed six times while struggling with OCD, NOCD co-founder and CEO Stephen Smith built NOCD to help people with OCD recognize their symptoms and access effective treatment. Today, NOCD is the leading provider of specialized OCD treatment. All of our therapists are extensively trained in exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy by NOCD’s clinical leaders. Our goal is to make specialized OCD treatment accessible to everyone who needs it. We’re grateful to Howie Mandel for helping us achieve that goal by helping more people recognize the signs of OCD, challenge stigma, and understand that recovery is possible. Read the full Fortune feature here: https://lnkd.in/gMf7ATJD

OCD remains one of the most misunderstood and frequently misdiagnosed mental health conditions. Too often, it’s reduced to stereotypes about cleanliness or organization, when in reality, it can be a debilitating disorder that impacts every aspect of a person’s life. NOCD - the world's leading provider of OCD treatment - is on a mission to make effective care accessible and change that reality for people across the country. In an insightful podcast episode with Howie Mandel and Billy Bob Thornton, they share their experiences with OCD openly and candidly. Their voices help replace stigma with understanding—reminding people that OCD is real, treatment exists, and no one has to face it alone. Thank you to Fortune and Catherina Gioino for showcasing the important work NOCD is doing to move the conversation around OCD and mental health forward. Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/epN6RKhb

A lot of people describe OCD as feeling trapped in their own mind. But for some, OCD can also create a feeling of disconnection from the world around them. Derealization is a symptom that can make the world feel distant, foggy, dreamlike, or unreal. People often describe it as feeling detached from their surroundings or like they’re observing life from the outside. While derealization can happen for many reasons, it can also show up alongside OCD—particularly when someone is stuck in intense rumination, hyperawareness, existential fear, or constant monitoring of their thoughts and body sensations. The difficult part is that many people then become fixated on the feeling itself. They start checking whether they feel “real” enough, analyzing their thoughts, researching symptoms, or seeking reassurance that something is not seriously wrong. But those attempts to find certainty can unintentionally keep the cycle going. Exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy helps people gradually learn how to experience uncertainty and discomfort without needing to solve, escape, or neutralize every sensation that shows up. And over time, that can create more space to reconnect with everyday life, relationships, and the present moment again. Read more about OCD and derealization: https://lnkd.in/g3tHSweD

Life rarely stays still. A move across the country. Starting a new job. Planning a wedding. Losing sleep during a stressful season. Even positive changes can disrupt routines and increase stress. For people living with OCD, these moments can sometimes trigger what’s known as an OCD flare-up: a sudden increase in intrusive thoughts, distress, and the urge to engage in compulsions—particularly after a period where symptoms felt less prominent. And it can feel incredibly discouraging when it happens. Many people immediately think, “Am I losing all my progress?” But flare-ups don’t erase progress. They’re often a normal part of living with a chronic condition. And there are ways to manage them. What matters is how people respond next. The same tools that help people manage OCD in the first place—specifically exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy, a specialized treatment for OCD—can also help them navigate setbacks over time. Recovery isn’t about never feeling triggered again. It’s about learning how to respond differently when those moments happen. And sometimes, that means remembering that hitting a pothole on the road doesn’t mean you’ve stopped moving forward. Read more on managing OCD flare-ups: https://lnkd.in/gKhjwQuK

Calling all Therapists! Explore a rewarding career with NOCD. We’re thrilled to invite you to a Prospective Therapist Info Session with NOCD hosted by Dr. Mia Nunez and Kirsten Knaak! 📅 When: Monday, June 1st ⏰ Time: 1:00 - 2:00 PM EST / 12:00 - 1:00 PM CST This is your chance to explore what it’s like to be part of the NOCD Network. Here’s what you can expect: 🎙️ Insights from a NOCD Therapist about working with Members, using ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention therapy), and making a meaningful impact in the lives of those who suffer with OCD. 💬 A discussion with a NOCD Recruiter about employment opportunities, benefits, and NOCD’s mission to end the mental health crisis. Register and secure your spot here: https://lnkd.in/ewT_zs9C Whether you’re an experienced professional or just starting your career, we’d love to connect with you and share how NOCD can support your growth while making a difference in people’s lives.

So proud to work for NOCD. 🫶

I feel so grateful and proud to work with this company, the extraordinary life-changing therapy and do, and how incredibly supported we are as clinicians. Come join us! Very happy to gush about NOCD in any pms or publicly :)

Real comment on the Webby Award-winning OCD short film produced by our Fullspan Health Content Studio and NOCD. From a nurse. The film has no clinical definitions in it. No symptom list or infographic. Just a pharmacist whose brain turns against her during a regular afternoon. What strikes me about that comment is one word: "understood." Yes, great health content is built for accuracy. And that remains important. But this nurse isn't describing a learning experience. She's describing something closer to being seen. That's a different job, and it requires a different kind of content. Lived experience is harder to produce responsibly. Which is probably why information stays the default.