The Government of India’s National Mental Health Survey (2015-16) reported OCD prevalence at 0.8% among adults. If a young person asks 30 times, “Are you sure I didn’t offend them?” and the family answers 30 times, it teaches the brain that certainty is required for safety. The kinder move is to help the young person practise tolerating uncertainty - gradually, with professional guidance. OCD is frightening because it hijacks what we value - safety, faith, responsibility, love - and turns it into endless doubt. (Dr. Alok Kulkarni is a senior consultant psychiatrist at the Manas Institute of Mental Health, Hubballi, Karnataka.

Source: The Hindu February 21, 2026 08:11 UTC