OCD Archives | Plano Christian Counseling

OCD Help: When Hoarding Becomes an Issue

OCD Help: When Hoarding Becomes an Issue

Ashlynn Barnette, Kate Motaung2026-08-19T08:54:09+00:00July 29th, 2026|Featured, Individual Counseling, Men’s Issues, OCD, Women’s Issues|

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) manifests in various ways, from commonly known rituals of excessive hand washing or repeatedly checking locks to more subtle, less recognized behaviors. One common symptom of OCD that is often overlooked is hoarding. Hoarding can be a significant and debilitating symptom of the disorder. People with hoarding tendencies experience intense anxiety and distress at the thought of discarding items, leading to the accumulation of possessions, often in a way that disrupts daily life. Hoarding as a symptom of OCD differs from compulsive hoarding disorder, which is a separate condition. In OCD-related hoarding, the behavior is usually linked to obsessions, such as fears of losing important information or items that might be needed in the future. This compulsion to hoard is an attempt to alleviate the distress caused by these obsessions. Despite the seriousness, hoarding related to OCD is not as widely recognized or discussed as other symptoms of this disorder. This can lead to delayed diagnosis and treatment, which can make the behavior more challenging to manage over time. Recognizing your hoarding tendencies before it becomes extreme can help protect your household from accumulating excessive items. Living with hoarding can be challenging, but there are some strategies that can help. Below are a few ways to begin managing hoarding. Managing Hoarding Starting small can make the overwhelming task of decluttering more manageable. If you see your possessions accumulating or notice a tendency to hold on to items unnecessarily, or if you have already accumulated an overwhelming amount of clutter, it’s not too late to act. Find a non-hoarding hero Consider finding someone you trust who doesn’t have hoarding tendencies to help you decide what to keep and what to throw away. Ask the right questions Ask yourself three key questions: Do I want to keep it? Do [...]

What Does OCD Mean? A Christian Counselor Defines and Simplifies

Rhonda Gist, Kate Motaung2026-06-12T05:35:45+00:00June 12th, 2026|Featured, Individual Counseling, OCD|

The term OCD is often used to describe someone who is extreme in areas such as cleaning or organization, or is detail-oriented and particular. It is sometimes seen as a joke, however obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is misunderstood. What does OCD mean? Obsessive-compulsive disorder is not simply being neat, organized, or overly meticulous. It is a serious mental health condition that significantly impacts a person’s life by interfering with daily activities or healthy thought processes. There are two aspects of obsessive-compulsive disorder: the first is obsessive thinking, and the second is compulsive behaviors. Obsessive thinking is an unhealthy thought process in which a person’s thoughts get stuck on a certain idea, and they are unable to redirect their thoughts. These thoughts are often intrusive and overwhelming. The compulsive part of OCD describes the behaviors that a person feels driven to do, often without logical reasons; however, the desire to do these behaviors is hard to avoid and dismiss. In mental health, for something to be considered a disorder, it must interfere with a person’s life, including relationships. ability to work, take proper care of themselves, or others. Obsessive thinking is characterized by unwanted intrusive thoughts, and the person has extreme difficulty not focusing on these thoughts, and the compulsive behaviors are often driven by the obsessive thinking. Compulsive behaviors are often repetitive behaviors and may be illogical and unproductive. Having obsessive-compulsive disorder not only interferes with a person’s day-to-day life, but it can also impact a person’s self-esteem, as they may feel that they have a character weakness that prevents them from being able to overcome obsessive thoughts or compulsive behaviors. However, when in fact the condition is a mental disorder and not a character flaw or a personality weakness. A person with OCD often realizes that their thoughts and [...]

Helping Elementary School Children When the OCD Monster Traps Them

Stephanie Kramer2026-05-16T07:33:58+00:00March 12th, 2026|Christian Counseling for Children, Family Counseling, Featured, OCD|

Imagine your sweet eight-year-old sitting at the kitchen table, staring at their math homework, tears quietly spilling down their cheeks. You notice them frantically erasing and rewriting the same answer over and over, desperate to make it “just right.” They’re not being picky or difficult; they’re stuck in an OCD loop that they don’t even fully understand themselves. As a parent, it is heartbreaking to watch and can leave both you and your child feeling hopeless and frustrated. Therapists see people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) struggle with OCD loops often. It’s particularly obvious in elementary school-aged children because, at that age, they have not yet learned how to manage their OCD-triggered behaviors. OCD is a tricky monster because it doesn’t always look the way we expect it to look. It’s not just about kids keeping their rooms spotless or washing their hands too often, which are more commonly known signs. Sometimes OCD manifests itself in quieter ways, such as having to sharpen a pencil exactly five times before class or feeling an overwhelming need to re-read the same sentence until it feels “right” to them. These thought and action loops aren’t just quirks; they’re signs that something much deeper is happening inside your child’s head and heart. The good news is that there are ways to help your child succeed even when it feels that OCD is an insurmountable obstacle. You’re not alone, and neither is your child. God sees you and God sees them – every struggle, every tear, and every frustrated eraser mark. He is not asking you to fight this battle alone. He is there with a loving hand, a mountain of grace and guidance. The first step in helping your child with OCD is understanding that their struggles aren’t a reflection of their character. They aren’t being [...]

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