--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: OCD. I’m more obsessive than compulsive…" description: "\"“OCD. I’m more obsessive than compulsive, so most of the ‘disorder’ part takes place in my own head. That makes it pretty easy to hide. No one knows.”\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/279/tamara-ireland-stone-26879_clutter_ocd-i-m-more-obsessive-than-compulsive-s_3129472.jpg" --- # OCD. I’m more obsessive than compulsive, so most of the… ![“OCD. I’m more obsessive than compulsive, so most of the ‘disorder’ part takes place in my own head. That makes it pretty easy to hide. No one knows.” quote by Tamara Ireland Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/279/tamara-ireland-stone-26879_clutter_ocd-i-m-more-obsessive-than-compulsive-s_3129472.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/279/tamara-ireland-stone-26879_clutter_ocd-i-m-more-obsessive-than-compulsive-s_3129472.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/279/tamara-ireland-stone-26879_clutter_ocd-i-m-more-obsessive-than-compulsive-s_3129472.jpg) > ““OCD. I’m more obsessive than compulsive, so most of the ‘disorder’ part takes place in my own head. That makes it pretty easy to hide. No one knows.”” [Tamara Ireland Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-ireland-stone/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker distinguishes obsessive thoughts from compulsive actions, noting the disorder lives mainly in the mind, making it hidden. **In simple terms:** Obsessive thoughts stay in the head, not outward actions. Key Takeaway Recognize and address internal mental patterns. Themes mental health self‑perception stigma Mood introspective empathetic Type psychological personal. When to use this quote - therapy sessions - self‑monitoring - journaling - support groups Key Concepts cognitive psychology anxiety self‑awareness Questions to Reflect On - What strategies help externalize internal obsessions? - How can others better understand hidden mental struggles? A Different Perspective Self‑report may underrepresent actual behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clutter/) [Obsessive compulsive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsessive-compulsive/) ## Related quotes > [I had really bad obsessive-compulsive disorder. 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I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-bechdel/i-could-not-do-what-i-do-if-i-were-not-obsessive-compulsive-to-a/) [Alison Bechdel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-bechdel/) > [I was diagnosed a number of years ago with obsessive-compulsive disorder - which everyone has, to some degree - and I have this really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-poundstone/i-was-diagnosed-a-number-of-years-ago-with-obsessive-compulsive/) [Paula Poundstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-poundstone/) > [I have got this obsessive compulsive disorder where I have to have everything in a straight line, or everything has to be in pairs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-beckham/i-have-got-this-obsessive-compulsive-disorder-where-i-have-to-have/) [David Beckham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-beckham/) > [I'm not as obsessive-compulsive about certain things; I give a lot of latitude to people and support people. I know that I can't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-karan/i-m-not-as-obsessive-compulsive-about-certain-things-i-give-a-lot-of/) [Donna Karan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-karan/) > [If only I had discipline, but alas, it is only an obsessive-compulsive trait and the beauty of habit that causes me to return again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/if-only-i-had-discipline-but-alas-it-is-only-an-obsessive-compulsive/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [Writing became an obsessive compulsive habit but I had almost no money so I thought about being an urban firefighter and having lots of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-guterson/writing-became-an-obsessive-compulsive-habit-but-i-had-almost-no/) [David Guterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-guterson/) > [We work crazy hours in Silicon Valley; my wife says we're all kind of diseased in some way. 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I am obsessive and compulsive about what I do, so my personal and professional lives are totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-barton/i-don-t-switch-off-at-5-p-m-i-am-obsessive-and-compulsive-about-what/) [Joey Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-barton/) > [Curing yourself of obsessive compulsive disorder by going to a strip club is pretty strange.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/curing-yourself-of-obsessive-compulsive-disorder-by-going-to-a-strip/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [I'm pretty obsessive-compulsive, and I'm very fast. I tend to not write for a long period of time until I can't not write, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-rapp/i-m-pretty-obsessive-compulsive-and-i-m-very-fast-i-tend-to-not-write/) [Adam Rapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-rapp/) > [Manchester United could have any goalkeeper in the world. I was a 23-year-old kid from New Jersey who, from an early age, had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-howard/manchester-united-could-have-any-goalkeeper-in-the-world-i-was-a-23/) [Tim Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-howard/) > [“I lean my head back and stare at the stark white ceiling. “My friend Zoe used to say I had obsessive compulsive disorder when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siobhan-davis/i-lean-my-head-back-and-stare-at-the-stark-white-ceiling-my-friend/) [Siobhan Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siobhan-davis/) ## More by Tamara Ireland Stone > [“I’m here now. Letting them out. Freeing my words Building better walls.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-ireland-stone/i-m-here-now-letting-them-out-freeing-my-words-building-better-walls/) [Tamara Ireland Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-ireland-stone/) > [“You are still here stitched into the words on these walls.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-ireland-stone/you-are-still-here-stitched-into-the-words-on-these-walls/) [Tamara Ireland Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-ireland-stone/) > [“How many thought does the brain automatically deliver in a single day?" "Seventy thousand" "That's right. Do you act on seventy thousand thoughts a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-ireland-stone/how-many-thought-does-the-brain-automatically-deliver-in-a-single-day/) [Tamara Ireland Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-ireland-stone/) > [“And suddenly, she stops moving and looks straight at me. "I'm in love with everything about you". Her words make me suck in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-ireland-stone/and-suddenly-she-stops-moving-and-looks-straight-at-me-i-m-in-love/) [Tamara Ireland Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-ireland-stone/) > [“Da igual si estaba escrito o no; no me corresponde a mí cambiarlo solo porque puedo.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-ireland-stone/da-igual-si-estaba-escrito-o-no-no-me-corresponde-a-m-cambiarlo-solo/) [Tamara Ireland Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-ireland-stone/) > [“I don’t stay anywhere. I visit. I observe. I leave. I don’t ever stay.” I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do with this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-ireland-stone/i-don-t-stay-anywhere-i-visit-i-observe-i-leave-i-don-t-ever-stay-i-m/) [Tamara Ireland Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-ireland-stone/) > [“And I just keep going and going, picking up pins and stabbing them into the paper until the map is covered with places I’ll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-ireland-stone/and-i-just-keep-going-and-going-picking-up-pins-and-stabbing-them/) [Tamara Ireland Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-ireland-stone/) > [“After you left I stared at the driveway Feeling its emptiness Wondering if you’d return. After you left I thought about your questions Wishing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-ireland-stone/after-you-left-i-stared-at-the-driveway-feeling-its-emptiness/) [Tamara Ireland Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-ireland-stone/) > [“The thoughts start gathering, butting up against the caution tape surrounding my brain, strategizing and preparing to rush in and take over.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-ireland-stone/the-thoughts-start-gathering-butting-up-against-the-caution-tape/) [Tamara Ireland Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-ireland-stone/) > [“I'm completely in love with you. What if I didn't leave, after all?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-ireland-stone/i-m-completely-in-love-with-you-what-if-i-didn-t-leave-after-all/) [Tamara Ireland Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-ireland-stone/) > [“It's me, asking him to let me in. Asking all of them to give a chance to show them that, deep down, I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-ireland-stone/it-s-me-asking-him-to-let-me-in-asking-all-of-them-to-give-a-chance/) [Tamara Ireland Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-ireland-stone/) > [“Ms. Navarro,” Mr. Mohr said, and Allie stopped and turned to look at him. “Can I ask you one more thing?” “Sure.” “Why didn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-ireland-stone/ms-navarro-mr-mohr-said-and-allie-stopped-and-turned-to-look-at-him/) [Tamara Ireland Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-ireland-stone/) > [“I stood there and stared at it—this colorful expanse of paper, with its topographic mountain ranges and changeable shades of blue to depict the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-ireland-stone/i-stood-there-and-stared-at-it-this-colorful-expanse-of-paper-with/) [Tamara Ireland Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-ireland-stone/) > [“La vida es una aventura intrépida o no es nada.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-ireland-stone/la-vida-es-una-aventura-intr-pida-o-no-es-nada/) [Tamara Ireland Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-ireland-stone/) > [“And I know I need to invite him over for dinner, because there's no question. This is serious.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-ireland-stone/and-i-know-i-need-to-invite-him-over-for-dinner-because-there-s-no/) [Tamara Ireland Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-ireland-stone/) [Explore all 16 Tamara Ireland Stone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-ireland-stone/) ## More Clutter quotes > [It's always something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilda-radner/it-s-always-something/) [Gilda Radner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilda-radner/) > [I hate clutter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-barrie/i-hate-clutter/) [Barbara Barrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-barrie/) > [If one's mind is so full of clutter, so is one's life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnreyes/if-one-s-mind-is-so-full-of-clutter-so-is-one-s-life/) [JOHNREYES](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnreyes/) > [“Only when we acknowledge ourselves as we really are can we begin to take inventory of the physical, mental, and emotional clutter that no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadiqua-hamdan/only-when-we-acknowledge-ourselves-as-we-really-are-can-we-begin-to/) [Sadiqua Hamdan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadiqua-hamdan/) > [I think we all have a little voice inside us that will guide us. It may be God, I don't know. But I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/i-think-we-all-have-a-little-voice-inside-us-that-will-guide-us-it/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [The leader is one who, out of the clutter, brings simplicity... out of discord, harmony... and out of difficulty, opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-leader-is-one-who-out-of-the-clutter-brings-simplicity-out-of/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Simple messages travel faster, simpler designs reach the market faster and the elimination of clutter allows faster decision making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/simple-messages-travel-faster-simpler-designs-reach-the-market-faster/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [Clutter is the official language used by corporations to hide their mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-zinsser/clutter-is-the-official-language-used-by-corporations-to-hide-their/) [William Zinsser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-zinsser/) > [If you've had something for more than six months, and it's still not repaired, it's clutter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/if-you-ve-had-something-for-more-than-six-months-and-it-s-still-not/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [Here's the general theory: To clarify, add detail. Imagine that. To clarify, add detail. And clutter and overload are not an attribute of information,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/here-s-the-general-theory-to-clarify-add-detail-imagine-that-to/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [The absence of clutter is just a clutter-free product. That's not simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ive/the-absence-of-clutter-is-just-a-clutter-free-product-that-s-not/) [Jonathan Ive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ive/) > [Out of clutter, find simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/out-of-clutter-find-simplicity/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Never underestimate the effect of clutter on your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-kingston/never-underestimate-the-effect-of-clutter-on-your-life/) [Karen Kingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-kingston/) > [Clutter is the disease of American writing,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-zinsser/clutter-is-the-disease-of-american-writing/) [William Zinsser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-zinsser/) > [On the whole, I think women wear too much and are to fussy. You can't see the person for all the clutter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-andrews/on-the-whole-i-think-women-wear-too-much-and-are-to-fussy-you-can-t/) [Julie Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-andrews/) [Browse all 347 Clutter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clutter/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“OCD. I’m more obsessive than compulsive, so most of the ‘disorder’ part takes place in my own head. That makes it pretty easy to hide. 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