People with OCD are known for being clean, but for people who experience it, it's about a lot more than getting the dirt off their hands.
Clinical psychologist, Brodrick Brown, said OCD is when a person has an intrusive thought which leads to anxiety and distress. That stress compels them to do certain actions or compulsions to alleviate that anxiety.
"For the person with OC, they feel like they have to do that or else something terrible will happen." Brown said.
Douglas Williams, a BYU student living in Provo, Utah, was diagnosed with OCD almost three years ago and he said it feels distressing.
"My thoughts are all over the place, and I just start feeling really uncomfortable in my own skin," Williams said.
"A lot of people describe it as whack-a-mole, where it can feel like, okay, I've got a handle on this area, and then it kind of pops up over here," Brown explained.
And Williams said he's had his own share of moles to whack, including health OCD.
"I'm constantly thinking, oh, I'm going to die, or I have cancer, or I've got a brain tumor or something like that," Williams said.
But the whack a mole game can be managed. Browns said his specialty is helping clients through exposure and response prevention therapy.
"Stopping that cycle in the only place where we actually have control, which is the action, so the compulsion," Brown said.
William acknowledged ERP is helpful for some people, but he's personally found relief through medication and acceptance and commitment therapy.
"I'm on a really good regimen of just medication, getting exercise, managing stress and just finding ways to find peace and relax," Williams said.
As for getting external help to knock down the OCD moles, both said it helps when others take time to learn.
"The most helpful is to learn about it... seek to understand it," Williams said.