does ocd ever fully go away?
i have been on prozac since february and have undergone ERP (had to stop due to insurance issues) and for the most part, my OCD has calmed down significantly. i dont really think it interferes with my life very much anymore -- the majority of my compulsions centered around rumination to a point of physically exhaustion. i barely ruminate now, and don't really think about my OCD much throughout the day tbh.....
but i was thinking today and i realized that i actually probably do still show some symptoms, even if they aren't quite so impactful or detrimental. for one (warning for NSFW and describing intrusive thoughts): >!i cannot m*sturbate because for some reason i think it'll jinx me (lol). and still checking my bowls/utensils carefully before eating with them, among other things!<.
i recognize this is likely still a manifestation of my OCD that should still be addressed but if i'm being honest, compared to how I was doing a few months ago, it feels like it isn't a big deal. it doesn't really cause me any 'anxiety' or exhaustion. idk if that makes any sense. i remember i watched a documentary a while back about people with OCD and some of the participants on meds also mentioned having slight symptoms/habits/"quirks" left from their OCD.
i guess i'm just curious about how normal this is -- does OCD ever go into full remission? or will i always have little "quirks"?
Posted Dec 4, 2025, 2:39 AM UTC