Are People With OCD Considered Neurodivergent? And a Conversation About What “Counts” as Neurodivergence

Written by Colter Bloxom, LPC

Colter is a licensed psychotherapist and the owner and Executive Director of Thrive Therapy. He specializes in the treatment of anxiety, OCD, identity issues, and more.

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People are becoming more and more familiar with the term “neurodivergence.” Being neurodivergent means that your brain doesn’t work in the same way that brains are considered typical — and for many people, that difference can be meaningful, creative, and deeply tied to identity. Most of the time, people talk about neurodivergence in relation to neurodevelopmental conditions like autism and ADHD.

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But obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) often gets left out of the conversation. OCD is usually talked about strictly as a mental health condition, not as a form of neurodivergence — which leads many people with OCD to wonder where they fit. Does OCD count as neurodivergent? And who actually gets to decide what “counts” in the first place? My take on it is: It depends, and you can identify in the way that makes you feel the most comfortable.

Why obsessive-compulsive disorder is a type of neurodivergence

The simple answer is: yes, many advocates agree that people with OCD are neurodivergent.

Neurodivergence broadly describes brains that function differently from what’s considered neurotypical. OCD has been found to have a strong neurological component. Brains with OCD work and see the world differently. 

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Brain imaging studies consistently find differences in how certain brain circuits function in people with OCD, especially in areas related to error detection, threat perception, and cognitive control. In other words, brains with OCD don’t just feel different — they actually process information differently. Science backs this up.

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OCD symptoms aren’t personality quirks or habits — they’re rooted in how the brain processes risk, responsibility, and fear. Obsessions and compulsions can shape how someone interacts with the world, relationships, work, and even their own body.

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But the answer also depends on your definition of neurodiversity, which can vary from person to person. There’s no single, official definition. Neurodiversity isn’t a medical diagnosis or a term from the DSM — it’s a social and cultural framework. Some people use it narrowly to describe only neurodevelopmental conditions. Others use it more broadly to include any neurodivergent condition that involves a brain working differently, including OCD.

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So the long answer to whether OCD is neurodivergent is: it depends on how you define it. But many people with OCD — and many clinicians and advocates — view OCD as a valid type of neurodivergence, especially given its neurological roots and lifelong patterns.

Overlap with autism and ADHD

Also, it’s worth noting that many people with OCD also have other neurodevelopmental conditions like autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Studies have found that up to 1 in 4 children with OCD also have symptoms of ADHD. And people with autism are twice as likely to later be diagnosed with OCD. 

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So people with OCD may be neurodivergent because they’re autistic or have ADHD, even if you don’t consider OCD itself to be a form of neurodivergence. Since there’s so much overlap — including neurobiological overlap — it makes sense that people with OCD are also considered neurodivergent. 

What does it mean to be neurodivergent?

There’s no officially recognized list of conditions that fall under the neurodiverse umbrella. The National Institute of Health defines neurodiversity as “the idea that people experience and interact with the world around them in many ways, with no one 'right' way of thinking, learning, and behaving, and differences are not deficits.”

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The concept of neurodiversity started in the late 1990s as a response to purely deficit-based models of the brain. Instead of viewing neurological differences only as disorders to be fixed, the neurodiversity movement emphasizes that human brains naturally vary — and that these differences are a beautiful part of human diversity. 

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For individuals with OCD, neurodivergence can show up through patterns like heightened threat sensitivity, rigid rule-based thinking, difficulty tolerating uncertainty, and intrusive thoughts. 

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Being neurodiverse can mean that you have a harder time in a neurotypical world that isn’t designed for you. But it can also mean meaningful strengths — things like deep focus, extra empathy, creativity, and persistence. 

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Neurodivergent minds often question assumptions that others take for granted. You might notice inconsistencies or details that get overlooked, or bring a level of thoughtfulness and integrity to your work and relationships without even realizing it. 

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Neurodivergent individuals aren't broken — far from it! Your brain just operates as a different version of human cognition.

People with OCD and what “counts” as neurodiversity

At the end of the day, though, it’s important to remember that neurodiversity is a way to be more inclusive. It’s not an elite club. It is important to keep the distinction between neurodiverse and neurotypical individuals, because it’s important to understand how neurodiverse brains work differently. It can feel dismissive to neurodiverse people when everyone starts identifying as neurodiverse. The truth is that most people are neurotypical --- that's why it's what's "typical."

But obsessing over who "qualifies" can miss the point. If you live with OCD, it’s okay to decide for yourself whether you identify with neurodiversity. Knowing if OCD is neurodivergence or not doesn't really change the scope of treatment. We're still going to use ERP (exposure response prevention) as the frontline treatment to help you engage in less compulsive and repetitive behaviors and create space from obsessions. But for some people, having this classification and embracing the neurological diversity might be a really profound step in their life. If learning about and identifying with neurodiversity helps us understand and love ourselves better, as long as they are not harmful to others, I am all for it.

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OCD also deserves to be taken seriously, whether it’s framed as a mental health condition, a form of neurodivergence, or both. 

Treatment for OCD, Neurodivergent Workshop in Arizona

Thrive Therapy offers an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for OCD designed to meet the needs of people whose brains work differently. We use evidence-based practices like exposure and response prevention (ERP) can help you break out of the OCD loop.

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Thrive also offers a Neurodiversity Workshop in Arizona, designed for:

• Anyone who is neurodivergent and wants to better understand how neurodivergence shapes your lived experience
  
  
• Anyone who is wondering if they may be neurodivergent and wants to learn more about neurodivergence as a framework (this workshop does not provide individual diagnosis or assessment)
  
  
• Partners or family members of neurodivergent people who want to better understand, support, and communicate with their loved ones
  
  

Regardless of what you’re going through, Thrive offers practical, affirming care that respects how your brain actually works. Get in touch with us today and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible to help you get matched to a therapist!

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