The Difference Between OCD and Anxiety Disorders (Ultimate Guide)

Mental health is a complex topic that seems to get more complex with each passing day. Our understanding of it, and our ability to diagnose problems accurately, are also constantly evolving. 

This shows progress and an eagerness to find solutions, but it leads to some confusion among the general population. 

Two types of disorders that are frequently confused are OCD and various anxiety disorders. There’s a good reason for that. They’re similar. However, they are not the same. 

Today, we’re going to go over the differences between OCD and anxiety disorders so you can better understand your diagnosis or better communicate with your mental health care team while seeking answers. 

Let’s get started. 

What is an Anxiety Disorder? 

An anxiety disorder is a mental condition that causes the sufferer to feel an uncontrollable sense of worry when confronted with various stimuli. 

A common example is social anxiety. Someone who suffers from social anxiety can be in a perfectly fine mental state, but when they go into a social situation, they might suddenly be overcome with fear and worry for no other reason than there are a lot of people around or someone talking to them. 

That’s only one type of anxiety disorder, too. People can have an anxiety disorder that revolves around various types of stimuli, or they might react to various stimuli differently.

Anxiety disorder is a very general term, and when diagnosed, a mental health professional will determine exactly what type of anxiety treatment is needed.

What is OCD? 

OCD, or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, is defined as a combination of obsessions and compulsions. 

An obsession is when you don’t want to think something, but your brain automatically does it. A compulsion is when your brain tells your body to have a physical reaction to that thought.

An example of these two working in tandem would be having to run through the alphabet 3 times before bed and or tap your hand on your leg twice before turning a knob, or something horrible will happen if you fail to do it.

That’s not always how OCD manifests, though. It can be any mix of obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. 

But if this happens every once in a while – that’s not OCD. 

OCD is when you frequently and regularly have these issues impacting your life, and the effects can vary from being mildly inconvenient to being completely debilitating. 

How is OCD Different from an Anxiety Disorder? 

This is where things get complicated. OCD technically isn’t different from an anxiety disorder in general. It is a form of anxiety disorder. 

As we said earlier, anxiety disorder is a fairly general term that covers a wide variety of anxiety-related mental conditions. 

OCD does stand out among the various other anxiety disorders because of how it manifests. 

When someone has OCD, it’s not just an overwhelming sense of anxiety when exposed to stimuli. The mind of an OCD person not only creates unwanted thoughts, but those thoughts are also something that the sufferer feels they have to think. On top of that, there’s a physical reaction. 

Anxiety, in general, can cause a physical reaction such as freezing, stuttering, or feeling the intense urge to get away from whatever is causing the anxiety. Still, with OCD, a specific action must be taken.

As we said, it often manifests in a repetitive compulsion that, even if the person is aware they don’t have to do it, they feel compelled to. 

Which is Harder to Deal with: Anxiety or OCD?

If you’re wondering what you might be dealing with, it’s common to wonder which potential answer is “worse” when it comes to mental disorders.

Truthfully, neither is “worse” than the other. They simply create different challenges and have to be approached in different ways when it comes to treating them. 

With any type of anxiety disorder or OCD, different people will experience dramatically different effects and have different reactions, and the impact of the disorder will vary, as well.

One person with either disorder might be inconvenienced or have to rely on some basic coping skills regularly to get through challenging events, and another might require more intense treatment, such as regular medications, to get relief from their symptoms.

How to Find Out if You Have Anxiety Disorder or OCD

From reading this guide, you might better understand what’s going on in your brain, but self-diagnosing can create issues.

There might be other variables you’re not considering, and even trained professionals require an extensive understanding of your day-to-day life to diagnose you accurately. 

As such, the best way to get a diagnosis is from a qualified mental health care provider.

Not only can they help determine if you have a disorder that requires treatment or a passing condition resulting from something else, but they can also pinpoint what your exact mental condition is and the best approach to give you back your peace of mind. 

What Does OCD Treatment Look Like? 

There is a stigma surrounding mental healthcare that often makes individuals avoid treatment. The condition itself might even make them avoid treatment because of anxiety or OCD-related thoughts. 

However, none of that is necessary, and if you’re feeling that hesitation, know that the first step to overcoming it is to seek the professional help you need.

When you do decide to seek a diagnosis or treatment for OCD that has already been diagnosed, the treatment isn’t anything too extreme. 

You’ll start with preliminary visits that allow your healthcare team to get to know you and your experience. You might get an OCD diagnosis on the first visit, or you might need to return. It’s necessary to ensure that you’re diagnosed accurately. 

Then, treatment will consist of a variety of therapy options, the development of coping skills, and, if needed, pharmaceutical aids designed to correct the source of the disorder.

Where to Get OCD Treatment

Now that you understand the difference between OCD and anxiety, it’s important to seek appropriate help if you’re struggling.

To ensure you receive the right support, contact our team at The OCD Treatment Center for an evaluation.

We’ll determine the most suitable treatment for you and guide you on your journey towards a better life.