Help and Information
Our Help and Information Service provides free, reliable information about OCD and related conditions, the recommended treatments, and how to access support.
You may only just be wondering whether OCD explains what is happening, be preparing to speak to a GP, be trying to help someone you care about, or have already sought treatment and found that it did not help.
Wherever you are, it can be difficult to know what information is relevant or what to do next. The information below can help you make sense of what you are experiencing and explore the options available to you.
Understanding OCD and seeking help for the first time
If OCD is new to you, the information below explains what it can look like and what to expect when seeking treatment.
I think I or someone I care about might have OCD or a related condition
OCD is often misunderstood, and it can be difficult to make sense of intrusive thoughts, fears or repetitive behaviours, particularly when they do not match common stereotypes about OCD.
We cannot tell you whether you or someone else has OCD. We can, however, help you understand how OCD and related conditions can present, what obsessions and compulsions are, and what effective treatment involves.
Asking for treatment is a big step, and it is common not to know how to go about it. You may be unsure where to start, what to tell your GP, whether you need a diagnosis before asking for help, or what treatment you should be requesting.
Before an initial appointment, it can help to understand which treatments are recommended for OCD and related conditions and what good-quality treatment should involve.
Our NHS pack explains how to prepare for an appointment, where a referral may lead and what care you should expect. Our treatment pack covers all the information you need about the treatments themselves and how to ensure you are getting the best possible quality therapy.
You can read this information in your own time or attend one of our free webinars, which cover the basics of OCD, recommended treatment and the first steps towards asking for help. There is also an opportunity to submit general questions during the session.
If getting the right treatment has been difficult
You may have struggled to access treatment, been passed between services, or already received treatment that did not help. The information below can help you understand what may have happened and what you could explore next.
I am having trouble getting treatment, or treatment has not helped
Being passed from one service to another, facing a long wait or being told that you do not meet a service’s criteria can wear you down. So can putting time and effort into treatment and finding that you are still unwell. Neither means that you have failed or that nothing else can help.
Our treatment pack sets out what recommended OCD treatment should include. Our NHS pack explains how care is organised, what should happen when an earlier treatment has not worked and when specialist treatment may be considered. The accessing treatment webinar covers the same ground and includes time for general questions.
Talking to people who understand
I would like support for myself or someone I care about
OCD can take over day-to-day life. It can be lonely when the people around you do not understand what is happening. Supporting someone with OCD can be lonely too, particularly when you are unsure whether reassurance, helping with rituals or avoiding triggers is making things better or feeding the OCD.
OCD Action runs free, peer-led support groups for people with OCD or a related condition, as well as separate groups for parents and caregivers, partners and loved ones, and young people. You do not need a formal diagnosis to join.
Most groups meet on Zoom and you can keep your camera off. There is no pressure to speak: you can listen until you feel comfortable. The groups offer mutual support rather than therapy or clinical advice.
Contact our Help and Information team
If you have been told different things by different professionals, cannot work out which service to ask, or do not know what to try after treatment has not helped, send us a message and tell us what has happened.
One of our trained volunteers will read your message and reply with information relevant to your question. This might include more specific information about recommended treatments, NHS services or another organisation that may be able to help. We cannot diagnose OCD, provide therapy, assess the treatment you have received, give medical advice or offer emergency support.
We usually reply by email. If you would prefer to speak by phone, choose the phone option in the form and leave your number. We will arrange a call where talking would be more useful. This can take longer, but we will always get back to you. If you aren’t around to pick up the first time, we will leave a voicemail and call you a further two times within a few days.
If you need urgent help
Please do not wait for a reply from us if you or someone else is in immediate danger. Call 999 or go to your nearest A&E. If you need to talk to someone now, you can call Samaritans free on 116 123, at any time of day or night.
Common questions
Who will I speak to?
Our Help and Information team is mostly made up of trained volunteers. Many have personal experience of OCD; others have supported a family member, partner or friend with OCD. All of our volunteers complete in-depth training before responding to enquiries.
Can I speak to someone by phone?
We usually answer enquiries by email. If you would prefer a phone call, choose the phone option in the form above and leave your number. We will contact you to arrange one.
What can you help with?
We can explain OCD and related conditions, recommended treatment, ways of accessing support and other services that may be relevant. We cannot diagnose OCD, provide therapy or give medical advice.
Is it confidential?
Yes. We treat what you tell us as confidential. We may need to share information if we are concerned about your safety or someone else’s.
Our Help and Information Service is a member of the Helplines Partnership.