The thoughts

Shin

 
 

not be

- 9 [|
AS a _
Vs LIVING AND COPING WITH PURE O

 

Hayleigh Fleming

Contributor

remember sitting in the comfy pink chair in my therapist's office, filled with optimism. It finally made
sense to me and | was now able to get help without fear. | wondered what type of treatment we would
do, how she would help me. | was at last on the road to peace.

“| think | have Pure ©,” | said confidently. She looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“| have Pure O. You know what that is, right?” | started to feel nervous as | watched her mouth slide
into an uncomfortable line.

“No, I'm not familiar with that. Can you explain it to me?” she finally responded; and in that moment,
| had never felt more helpless.

Unfortunately, this is the reality for many of those who make the decision to ask for help. Pure O OCD
is a condition that is only just recently coming to light, and sadly, in addition to the general public, many
mental health professionals are still in the dark about what this condition is. It is so unheard of that most
people are not even aware that they have it; in fact, | found out not through conversations with medical
professionals but through my own online research. | deeply connected with all of the literature and felt

like it was written about me. Eventually, | stumbled across an entire community of people that were

experiencing the exact same thing.

What is Pure O?

Pure O, or Pure Obsessional, falls under the umbrella of Obsessive-
Compulsive Disorders (OCD). Unlike what's commonly thought of as
typical OCD, which usually entails both internal obsessions and external
compulsions and rituals, Pure O exhibits itself through repetitive, unwanted
intrusive thoughts that are usually disturbing in nature. These intrusive
thoughts can be extremely alarming and debilitating, causing significant
distress to those who experience them. People who live with Pure O find

it extremely difficult to reach out due to the nature of the thoughts. They
fear judgement, ridicule, or even punishment. Similar to stereotypical OCD
behaviours, individuals with Pure O do engage in compulsions—rituals to
reduce or minimize stress—though they are subtle and mostly hidden. These
behaviours often include seeking constant reassurance, obsessive online

researching, and avoidance.