I watched a short clip where Luke Combs, a well known singer, talks about his struggle with Pure O OCD. I wanted to share a fews thoughts to empower your journey. Pure O OCD is a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder where the battles of compulsions take place internally, with mental compulsions and relentless rumination. I share not only my personal journey but also practical steps and compassionate insights that can help gain graeter freedom. Whether you’re struggling yourself, supporting a loved one, or simply want to understand this often-misunderstood condition, you’ll find encouragement, clarity, and hope here. Join me as we explore what it means to heal, grow, and find freedom together.
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When the compulsions happen entirely in your head, the struggle may seem invisible—but no less real.
Country music star Luke Combs recently opened up about his experience with Pure O OCD, shedding light on a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder that remains largely hidden from the outside world. His candid discussion reveals a truth that millions face daily: sometimes the most intense battles happen entirely within the confines of our own minds.
What Is Pure O OCD?
Pure O (Pure Obsessional) OCD differs from the more commonly recognized forms of OCD in one crucial way: the compulsions are mental rather than physical. While traditional OCD involves observable behaviors—hand washing, checking locks, arranging items—Pure O keeps all the action internal.
As Luke Combs explained, “You’re not doing any behaviors that are observable. The behaviors are all mental. It’s just rumination and mental rituals.” The result? Someone could be having a complete internal struggle while appearing normal to everyone around them.
This creates a unique isolation. Unlike someone who repeatedly washes their hands, a person with Pure O might spend hours mentally arguing with intrusive thoughts, analyzing their feelings, or performing elaborate mental rituals—all while carrying on normal conversations and daily activities.
The Invisible Prison
What makes Pure O particularly challenging is that it traps people in what can only be described as an “inward tornado.” The mind becomes a battleground where disturbing thoughts clash with frantic attempts to neutralize them. This internal chaos pulls people away from being fully present in their relationships, work, and daily experiences.
The compulsions in Pure O often take the form of:
- Mental arguing
- Debating with intrusive thoughts
- Trying to convince yourself they’re wrong
- Rumination: replaying scenarios over and over, searching for resolution
- Checking thoughts and feelings – Constantly monitoring your internal state for “proof” of your fears
- Mental rituals – performing specific thought patterns to feel safe or “right”
- Neutralizing – trying to cancel out bad thoughts with good ones
When Faith Becomes a Battlefield
For Christians struggling with Pure O, faith often becomes one of the primary targets. The condition has a cruel tendency to attack what we value most deeply. Common religious obsessions include:
- “Do I really love God enough?”
- “Am I truly saved?”
- “Have I committed the unforgivable sin?”
- “Is Jesus really Lord of my life?”
- “Do I fully believe?”
These questions might sound like normal spiritual reflection, but in the context of Pure O, they become relentless, anxiety-provoking loops that provide no peace or spiritual growth. The person becomes trapped chasing certainty about things that, by their very nature, require faith.
The tragedy is that many in the church don’t recognize this pattern. Well-meaning believers often respond with more theology, more Bible verses, or questions about the person’s spiritual commitment—inadvertently feeding the very cycle that’s causing the suffering.
The Antithesis of Who You Are
One of the most insightful observations Luke Combs made was that Pure O “preys on everything, like, the antithesis of who you are.” This perfectly captures how intrusive thoughts work—they don’t reflect your true desires or character. Instead, they attack your core values, creating maximum distress.
A loving parent might have violent thoughts about their child. A devoted Christian might experience blasphemous thoughts. A faithful spouse might have inappropriate sexual thoughts. These thoughts are particularly disturbing precisely because they go against everything the person actually believes and values.
Breaking Free from Mental Imprisonment
Recovery from Pure O isn’t about eliminating intrusive thoughts—it’s about changing your relationship with them. The key is learning not to engage with these thoughts through mental compulsions. This requires several important shifts:
Stop Compulsively Combating the Thoughts: Mental arguing and reasoning only strengthen the obsession. Each time you engage with an intrusive thought, you’re essentially telling your brain it’s important enough to pay attention to and the accusations are valid.
Practice the Gentle Redirect: Instead of getting pulled into mental battles, gently redirect your attention to the present moment. This isn’t about forcing thoughts away—it’s about choosing what deserves your focus.
Accept Uncertainty: Pure O thrives on the need for absolute certainty. Recovery involves learning to live with questions that don’t have clear answers, especially in matters of faith and meaning.
Understand Thought-Action Fusion: Having a thought doesn’t make you the kind of person who would act on it. Thoughts are mental events, not moral failures or predictions of future behavior.
The Journey Mindset
Perhaps most importantly, overcoming Pure O requires embracing a journey mindset rather than seeking a quick fix. This isn’t about reaching a point where you never have another intrusive thought—it’s about developing the skills to navigate them without being controlled by them.
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