Information

How is OCD diagnosed and treated?

Learn how to access an OCD diagnosis, as well as tips on finding the right support and therapy for managing OCD.

How to manage OCD symptoms

Explore strategies for managing obsessive-compulsive symptoms, from understanding the OCD cycle to challenging unhelpful thoughts and behaviours.

I’m having intrusive thoughts. Do I have OCD?

Learn more about obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), including common symptoms, possible causes, and factors that may make OCD worse.

Real life stories

Getting support and treatment for my OCD

Growing up with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder was difficult for this reader, but treatment has made a positive difference

How mental health treatment supported my recovery

Lucy shares how medication, exposure therapy and patience has helped her get back on track with her mental health.

Why living with OCD is different to what’s on social media

This contributor talks about what life with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is like day-to-day versus how it is portrayed on social media.

Aware logo

Aware

Aware provides information and support services to people affected by mental illnesses such as depression, bipolar and mood-related conditions.

Carmha - Connection and Recovery in Addiction and Mental Health logo

Carmha – Connection and Recovery in Addiction and Mental Health

Provides range of free professional counselling and peer-support services for people over 18 with addiction and mental health issues (Dual-diagnosis)

Cork Counselling Services Ltd. logo

Cork Counselling Services Ltd.

Cork Counselling service works with children, adolescents and families to provide quality counselling and psychotherapy. They offer individual counselling and...

Curam Counselling Services logo

Curam Counselling Services

Family and Community Centre offering supports and services to individuals, families and groups in the local community e.g. Low cost...

Dowdstown Counselling Service logo

Dowdstown Counselling Service

Dowdstown Counselling Services aims to provie high quality, affordable counselling in collaboration with other agencies. Through our work we aim...

Helplink Mental Health logo

Helplink Mental Health

Helplink Mental Health's mission is to provide accessible, free or low cost mental health services; locally, nationally and internationally, 7...

Helplink Mental Health Galway logo

Helplink Mental Health Galway

Helplink Mental Health's mission is to provide accessible, free or low cost mental health services; locally, nationally and internationally, 7...

Helplink Mental Health Mayo logo

Helplink Mental Health Mayo

Helplink Mental Health's mission is to provide accessible, free or low cost mental health services; locally, nationally and internationally, 7...

HSE Find a GP logo

HSE Find a GP

The HSE's 'Find a GP' can help you get contact information for GPs in your area. If you are having...

HSE National Counselling Service logo

HSE National Counselling Service

The National Counselling Service (NCS) provides free counselling to people age 18 or older who experienced childhood abuse or neglect....

HSE Your Mental Health logo

HSE Your Mental Health

HSE Mental Health Supports provide a list of mental health supports, phone lines, services, apps and more for those dealing...

Innovation Recovery College logo

Innovation Recovery College

The Innovation Recovery College is an online education resource to support people recovering from mental health difficulties or for those...

Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP) logo

Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP)

IACP provides a directory of therapists that provide their paid services across Ireland.

Jigsaw logo

Jigsaw

Jigsaw is a nationwide charity that offers free therapy to young people between the age of 12-25, as well as...

Jigsaw Cork logo

Jigsaw Cork

Jigsaw Cork provides a free and confidential service for young people in Cork City and County between the ages of...

Jigsaw Donegal logo

Jigsaw Donegal

Jigsaw is a national organisation that aims to promote the mental health of young people. Jigsaw provides a free and...

Jigsaw Dublin 15 logo

Jigsaw Dublin 15

Jigsaw Dublin 15 provides a free and confidential service for young people between 12 and 25 years old. Jigsaw aims...

Jigsaw Dublin City logo

Jigsaw Dublin City

Jigsaw Dublin City provides a free and confidential service for young people between 12 and 25 years old. Jigsaw aims...

Jigsaw Dublin South-West logo

Jigsaw Dublin South-West

Jigsaw Dublin South West provides a free and confidential service for young people between 12 and 25 years old. Jigsaw...

Jigsaw Galway logo

Jigsaw Galway

Jigsaw supports young people with their mental health by providing early intervention supports. This free one-to-one service is provided by...

Jigsaw Kerry logo

Jigsaw Kerry

Jigsaw supports young people (12-25 years) with their mental health by providing early intervention supports. This free one-to-one service is...

Jigsaw Meath logo

Jigsaw Meath

Jigsaw supports young people with their mental health by providing early intervention supports. This free one-to-one service is provided by...

Jigsaw Offaly logo

Jigsaw Offaly

Jigsaw is a national organisation that aims to promote the mental health of young people. Jigsaw provides a free and...

Jigsaw Roscommon logo

Jigsaw Roscommon

Jigsaw is a national organisation that aims to promote the mental health of young people. Jigsaw provides a free and...

Jigsaw Tipperary logo

Jigsaw Tipperary

Only primary youth mental health provider in Ireland for people aged 12-25. Aims to achieve better mental health outcomes for...

Jigsaw Wicklow logo

Jigsaw Wicklow

Jigsaw Wicklow provides a free and confidential service for young people in county Wicklow between 12 and 25 years old....

Jigsaw- Laois/Offaly logo

Jigsaw- Laois/Offaly

Jigsaw Laois/Offaly provides a free and confidential service for young people in Laois & Offaly between 12 and 25 years...

Jigsaw- North Fingal logo

Jigsaw- North Fingal

Jigsaw North Fingal provides a free and confidential service for young people between 12 and 25 years old. Jigsaw aims...

Local counselling services illustration image of two colourful people talking

Local counselling services

A range of local, community-based services providing affordable professional counselling to children and adolescents, adults or both. Available in: Dublin...

Mayo Recovery College logo

Mayo Recovery College

This unique service aims to support, maintain and promote positive mental health in the community and to foster hopeful positive...

Mindspace Mayo logo

Mindspace Mayo

Mindspace Mayo provides free and confidential support in person for young people aged 12-25 in Mayo. Our centre in the...

MyMind logo

MyMind

MyMind provides professional counselling and psychotherapy, face-to-face or online, without waiting lists or need to referral. Face-to-face appointments are available...

Pieta logo

Pieta

Pieta provides emergency 24/7 text and phone line, online or in-person counselling and wider supports for those at risk of...

Pieta Balbriggan logo

Pieta Balbriggan

Pieta provide a range of services nationally to people who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, those who engage in self-harm,...

Pieta Ballina logo

Pieta Ballina

Pieta provide a range of services nationally to people who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, those who engage in self-harm,...

Pieta Ballyfermot logo

Pieta Ballyfermot

Pieta provide a range of services nationally to people who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, those who engage in self-harm,...

Pieta Belong To logo

Pieta Belong To

Pieta provides free crisis counselling services within BeLonG To Youth Services in Dublin City Centre and across Ireland for young...

Pieta Blakestown & Mountview Youth Initiative logo

Pieta Blakestown & Mountview Youth Initiative

Pieta provide a range of services nationally to people who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, those who engage in self-harm,...

Pieta Carrickmacross logo

Pieta Carrickmacross

Pieta provide a range of services nationally to people who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, those who engage in self-harm,...

Pieta Cavan logo

Pieta Cavan

Pieta provide a range of services nationally to people who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, those who engage in self-harm,...

Pieta Clones logo

Pieta Clones

Pieta provide a range of services nationally to people who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, those who engage in self-harm,...

Pieta Cork logo

Pieta Cork

Pieta provide a range of services nationally to people who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, those who engage in self-harm,...

Pieta Dublin South logo

Pieta Dublin South

Pieta provide a range of services nationally to people who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, those who engage in self-harm,...

Pieta Galway logo

Pieta Galway

Pieta provide a range of services nationally to people who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, those who engage in self-harm,...

Pieta Kerry logo

Pieta Kerry

Pieta provide a range of services nationally to people who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, those who engage in self-harm,...

Pieta Louth logo

Pieta Louth

Pieta provide a range of services nationally to people who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, those who engage in self-harm,...

Pieta Midlands logo

Pieta Midlands

Pieta provide a range of services nationally to people who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, those who engage in self-harm,...

Pieta Midwest logo

Pieta Midwest

Pieta provide a range of services nationally to people who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, those who engage in self-harm,...

Pieta Monaghan logo

Pieta Monaghan

Pieta provide a range of services nationally to people who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, those who engage in self-harm,...

Pieta Northwest logo

Pieta Northwest

Pieta provide a range of services nationally to people who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, those who engage in self-harm,...

Pieta Roscrea logo

Pieta Roscrea

Pieta provide a range of services nationally to people who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, those who engage in self-harm,...

Pieta Sligo logo

Pieta Sligo

Pieta provide a range of services nationally to people who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, those who engage in self-harm,...

Pieta South East logo

Pieta South East

Pieta provide a range of services nationally to people who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, those who engage in self-harm,...

Pieta Swords logo

Pieta Swords

Pieta provide a range of services nationally to people who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, those who engage in self-harm,...

Pieta Virginia logo

Pieta Virginia

Pieta provide a range of services nationally to people who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, those who engage in self-harm,...

Pieta West logo

Pieta West

Pieta provide a range of services nationally to people who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, those who engage in self-harm,...

Pieta West Cork logo

Pieta West Cork

Pieta provide a range of services nationally to people who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, those who engage in self-harm,...

Pieta Wexford logo

Pieta Wexford

Pieta provide a range of services nationally to people who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, those who engage in self-harm,...

Samaritans logo

Samaritans

Samaritans provide a 24-hour freephone number for anyone experiencing difficulty or who needs to talk.

St. Patricks Mental Health Services logo

St. Patricks Mental Health Services

St. Patricks Mental Health Service telephone and email service is staffed by experienced mental health nurses 9-5 Monday to Friday...

Switchboard logo

Switchboard

The Switchboard helpline provides confidential and non-judgmental listening, support and information services for Ireland's LGBTQIA community.

TeenLine logo

TeenLine

Teenline provides a 24-hour active listening service for young people up to the age of 18 in Ireland.

Text About It logo

Text About It

Text About It is a free, anonymous, 24/7 messaging service providing everything from a calming chat to immediate support for...

Traveller Counselling Service logo

Traveller Counselling Service

The Traveller Counselling Service provide a free independent culturally appropriate counselling service which is specially set up for Travellers aged...

HSE logo

Your Mental Health information line

The Your Mental Health information line provide information on the mental health supports and services available to you and how...

Books, podcasts, and apps

Clear Fear

The Clear Fear app uses CBT based strategies to help reduce symptoms of anxiety by helping you learn strategies like breathing and relaxation techniques.

HSE Health and Wellbeing podcast

The HSE's Health and Wellbeing podcast explores a wide range of health topics with insights on how to manage our own health, access supports and achieve healthy outcomes in our communities.

Overcoming obsessive compulsive disorder : a self-help guide using cognitive behavioral techniques

David Veale's guide offers a CBT-based self-help guide to understanding OCD, challenging intrusive thoughts, and reducing compulsive behaviors for lasting recovery.

The mindfulness workbook for OCD : a guide to overcoming obsessions & compulsions using mindfulness & cognitive behavioral therapy

Jon Hershfield's The Mindfulness Workbook for OCD combines mindfulness and CBT to help manage obsessions and compulsions, reduce anxiety, and develop healthier responses to intrusive thoughts.

The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook

The Relaxation & Stress Reduction Workbook by Martha Davis, Elizabeth Robbins Eshelman, and Matthew McKay offers practical techniques to manage stress, relax, and improve overall well-being.

Activities

54321 Grounding Technique

Grounding is a quick, easy way to refocus on the present moment by using your senses or simple mental exercises. Learn how to use grounding exercises to reduce stress in the moment.

Guided Mindful Meditation

Mindfulness meditation can help boost your mood, combat stress and improve your wellbeing. Take 5 minutes for yourself today and practice self-care with this guided meditation.

Journaling

Journaling is a great activity to try as it helps reduce stress, boosts self-awareness, and improves mood. It can help you process your emotions, track patterns, and enhance emotional well-being.