Jenna Ortega opens up about life with OCD — What you need to know about the condition

Jenna Ortega opens up about living with OCD, sparking conversation on mental health and breaking stigma

Hollywood favourite Jenna Ortega — best known for her role in Wednesday — has revealed that she lives with what she calls “fairly bad OCD.” Speaking on Heart Evening Show this Tuesday, Ortega shared how the condition affects her daily life — fighting intrusive thoughts, counting things several times, and at night, doing rituals such as climbing the stairs six times to protect their home.

By being honest about her experience, she has brought fresh attention to an often misunderstood mental health condition: Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and forces an important discussion on identity, stigma and treatment.

What Is OCD?

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is an anxiety disorder involving intrusive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviours (compulsions) carried out to ease the anxiety these thoughts create.

Also Read: Study reveals women who consume coffee at night may show higher impulsive behaviour

Causes and Triggers

While the precise cause is unknown, research points to a mix of genetic influences, brain circuitry differences, serotonin imbalances, and past stress or trauma. Ortega notes that her OCD worsens during periods of stress or fatigue, making her compulsions even harder to resist.

Why Jenna’s Story Hits Home

Jenna sets the record straight — OCD is not just writing notes a certain number of times or re-organizing your closet. This visibility also demonstrates that many successful and creative people deal with the daily complexities of manageable anxiety—and that most of the time, treatment works. A Mumbai-based psychiatrist Dr. Arjun Malik, elaborates on this: “Sharing experiences with mental illness, particularly from high-status media personalities, leads to compassion, knowledge — and above all, optimism.”

Managing OCD — What Works

1. CBT and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)

Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is the gold-standard treatment, a type of CBT. It allows people to confront their fears and avoid performing compulsions, thus decreasing anxiety in stages.

Also Read: How to lose weight fast: Fat loss coach shares 5 simple early morning habits for quick results

2. Medication

Treatment typically includes Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), or, in some cases, clomipramine, which help to rebalance the brain

3. Complementary Approaches

As a complementary approach to traditional treatment, introducing yoga, mindfulness and stress-management techniques can work. Through practices like breath control and calming postures, one might just get the antidote to reduce that compulsive urge.

4. Support Systems

Therapy, online communities, and understanding loved ones work to produce a surrounding environment that supports handling compulsions wisely.

Disclaimer: This article, including health and fitness advice, only provides generic information. Don’t treat it as a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist for specific health diagnosis.