Is OCD Considered to be Linked to Neurodivergent People?

Is OCD Considered to be Linked to Neurodivergent People?

I’ll start with a confession: OCD isn’t something I personally struggle with a lot. My ADHD has been more than enough to keep me busy over the years… unpaid bills, missed MOTs, and a knack for leaving my contact lenses in places that don’t make sense.

That said, I’ve been asked this question so many times in my coaching work: is obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) considered part of the neurodivergent spectrum? So, while it’s not my personal lived reality, I’ve dug deep into the research and spoken to many people who do live with it. And I did once post a video about checking our passports twenty times before going on holiday, even when I knew they were in my bag. For me, that comes from ADHD hyper-vigilance and no trust in my memory, not OCD… but it shows how the lines can feel blurry.

What Is OCD?

OCD, or obsessive-compulsive disorder, is medically classified as a mental health condition, not a neurodevelopmental disorder like ADHD or autism spectrum disorder.

It’s most often described as an anxiety disorder. The core features are:

• Intrusive thoughts (obsessions) that feel overwhelming and unwanted

• Compulsive behaviours or mental acts carried out to reduce anxiety

For example, someone might be plagued by thoughts of contamination, then feel compelled to wash their hands in a repetitive cycle. The difference from quirks or preferences is that these rituals are distressing and disruptive to daily life.

Why People Ask About OCD and Neurodivergence

I understand why people lump OCD under the neurodivergent umbrella. There are overlapping traits:

• Both OCD and autism can involve repetitive behaviours, though the reasons differ. For autistic people, repetition can be soothing or sensory-based. For someone with OCD, it’s about neutralising anxiety from intrusive thoughts.

• ADHD and OCD sometimes appear together, and both involve the orbitofrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, and basal ganglia – brain regions tied to decision-making and error detection.

• Many neurodiversity advocates argue that OCD, like ADHD or autism, represents a form of neurological diversity and should be recognised as part of the wider conversation.

So medically, OCD is seen as an anxiety disorder, but in the real world, the intersection of OCD and neurodivergent conditions is messy. Many people with OCD experience their brains as wired differently, and that resonates strongly with the neurodiversity movement.

The Impact on Daily Life

The way people describe OCD often reminds me of my own ADHD battles with trust in memory. That passport moment I mentioned? I knew full well I’d put them in my bag, but my brain was so hyper-alert that I kept checking again and again. The difference is, once I got through security, I could let it go. For someone with OCD, the cycle doesn’t always switch off so easily.

Symptoms of OCD can include:

• Obsessive thoughts that won’t stop repeating

• Compulsive behaviours like checking, counting, or repeating actions

• Ritualistic behaviours that temporarily calm anxiety but eat into time

• An impact on social interactions, work, and family life

It can drain quality of life and leave people exhausted, misunderstood, and ashamed… much like the way ADHD burnout shows up for many of us.

When OCD Appears With Other Conditions

Over the years, I’ve met clients with ADHD who also have OCD, and others who are autistic with overlapping OCD traits. Co-occurrence is common, and it can make daily lives more complicated. For example:

• Autistic individuals might have repetitive behaviours that overlap with OCD compulsions.

• ADHD and OCD together can create a tug-of-war between impulsivity and obsessive control.

• Tourette syndrome, PTSD, and mood disorders often intersect with OCD too.

This is why an accurate diagnosis is so important. OCD shares surface-level similarities with other neurodevelopmental conditions, but the underlying cause and treatment are often different.

Treatment and Support

Unlike ADHD or autism, OCD symptoms can often be reduced significantly with the right interventions. Common approaches include:

• Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), especially exposure and response prevention (ERP), which helps people resist compulsions in response to intrusive thoughts.

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which can reduce obsessive thoughts.

• A tailored approach, especially if someone also has ADHD or is on the autism spectrum.

But support isn’t just medical. An inclusive environment plays a crucial role too. Just as ADHD and autism need understanding rather than judgement, OCD requires empathy and adjustments so people aren’t dismissed as quirky or difficult.

So, Is OCD Neurodivergent?

Here’s the honest answer: medically, OCD is considered a mental health disorder, not a neurodevelopmental condition. But many people with OCD identify with the neurodiversity framework, and for good reason. They experience their brains as working in unique ways, with unique challenges and sometimes unique strengths.

From my coaching perspective, I don’t get hung up on the exact label. Whether OCD sits neatly under the umbrella of neurodivergence or not, people living with it deserve recognition, support, and space to be understood.

And if you’ve ever stood in your hallway, checking your bag for passports twenty times… know that you’re not alone. Whether it’s OCD, ADHD, or just the hyper-vigilant saboteur in your brain, our human brains have funny ways of trying to keep us safe, even when it makes daily life harder.

Finding Support That Works for You

If you’ve read this and thought, “This sounds a lot like me,” or if you live with ADHD, OCD, or another neurodivergent condition and want more clarity, there are a few ways I can help:

• Free ADHD Analysis Tool
  This is a great first step if you’re wondering how ADHD shows up in your daily life. It won’t diagnose OCD or ADHD, but it will help you see the patterns that might be driving overwhelm, memory struggles, or those looping thoughts that never seem to let you go.

• 1-to-1 Coaching
  If you’re juggling ADHD, anxiety, or even elements of OCD, working together can help you untangle what’s going on and build strategies that actually stick. Coaching is about making daily life easier, not harder. For some people, it’s about learning to trust their memory again, for others it’s about creating routines that reduce stress and shame.

• My 6-Week ADHD Course
  This programme is designed for people who want structure, strategies, and the relief of hearing from others who’ve faced the same challenges. If OCD or intrusive thoughts overlap with ADHD, the course gives you tools for managing executive function, calming the chaos, and finding practical ways to get unstuck.

You’re always free to reach out to me if you have questions. I write these blogs and do this coaching because I care, and because I want people to get the support they deserve. Nobody should be left feeling broken just because their brain works differently.