The Cost of OCD You Might Not Know About

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions). However, for the millions of people living with OCD, it’s a disorder that has far-reaching effects that can touch every aspect of daily living, including one’s financial stability. 

That might come as a surprise because when you think of OCD, money is probably not on the short list of things that come to mind. The fact is, direct and indirect costs of living with OCD are not insignificant and can add up quickly, creating additional stress, especially when it comes to making treatment decisions. Understanding the financial impacts of OCD and having a plan to manage them can be an important part of your overall treatment planning and goals rather than a barrier to seeking help.  

The Not-So-Obvious Costs of OCD

The most obvious cost concern related to OCD is probably the cost of treatment. And to be fair, treatment does cost money. However, the cost of living with OCD goes much deeper than that, and when compared to seeking help, the cost of treatment may not be the barrier you think it is.  

Loss of Income

Living with OCD can quietly erode your financial stability in ways that might not be immediately obvious. One of the most significant expenses comes from lost productivity. Some OCD symptoms, like excessive checking, washing, or mental rituals, can consume many hours of a person’s day, leaving less time for other important activities.

One of the diagnostic criteria for OCD is that the symptoms take up at least an hour of time each day. However, depending on the nature and severity of symptoms, some people may spend in excess of 4-5 hours a day dealing with their symptoms. That kind of time loss can have significant impacts on time management and make keeping a regular schedule difficult. Studies have found that people with OCD may miss as many as 46 work days a year. And that lost income can add up quickly!

For example, if you make $25 an hour, a missed day could cost you $200 a day or more depending on the number of hours you normally work. Say you miss 40 days a year due to your OCD. That’s roughly $8000 and a significant loss of income! Over time, missing time or struggling with productivity can also hinder your opportunities for advancement or merit increases, further limiting your income potential, and straining your ability to save for the future. 

Budget Impacts

OCD doesn’t just affect the potential loss of income. It can also drive up your spending. Some types of OCD symptoms involve the excessive use of things like cleaning supplies, gloves, or even having duplicates of things in order to satisfy compulsions. For example, a person with contamination concerns might buy excessive amounts of soap, hand sanitizer, disposable gloves, paper towels and other items, keeping multiple items around the house, in the car, at work, etc. These expenses can quickly add up and overwhelm a household budget. 

Healthcare Costs

OCD can come with healthcare expenses too, some of them not so obvious. It’s not uncommon for people living with OCD to try any number of self-help long before or instead of seeking treatment from a qualified provider. Self-help tools can and do have a positive place in the treatment of OCD, but not all self-help resources are equal. Random over-the-counter medications, supplements, and even unproven “therapies” (meaning there is no scientific evidence to support its effectiveness for OCD) can contribute to a cycle of ineffective coping, not to mention, take a bite out of the bank account. 

There’s also the issue of co-occurring disorders. Studies have found that about 50% of people with OCD also have at least one co-occurring disorder like depression or anxiety. In severe cases, untreated OCD and co-occurring can amplify medical costs. For example, panic attacks are not uncommon in people who have OCD. A panic attack, while intensely distressing, is not dangerous and typically doesn’t require medical treatment. However, for those experiencing one for the first time—especially without knowing what it is—the experience can be terrifying, often leading them to seek emergency care. Unfortunately, a single visit to the ER for a panic attack can cost hundreds of dollars or more, an expense you probably didn’t budget for. 

The Ripple Effect on Long-Term Finances

The financial strain of OCD can impact your long-term financial plans too. The average time between the onset of symtpoms and an OCD diagnosis lies at almost 13 years. For teens and young adults, undiagnosed or unmanaged OCD can delay important milestones like completing your education or being able to maintain employment or building your savings. For example, if you’re in college or other post-high school training, you may find that your symptoms are impacting your ability to study or finish projects. This can impact financial aid, scholarships, and even graduation time. These delays can translate into lost time and lost income. 

Financial issues related to OCD can impact those around you too. Family or partners might find themselves having to help with added expenses such as covering bills or unexpected expenses or even taking time from their own work to support you when needed. Not surprisingly, OCD-related conflicts (e.g., conflicts over excessive spending or rigid rituals and routines) can significantly undermine and strain relationships. Treatment Is An Investment

Treating OCD is more than just managing your mental health. Treating your OCD is also a smart financial move with a high return on investment (ROI) that can pave the way for financial stability. Here’s how:

Evidence-based treatments like Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), a specialized type of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), have been shown to significantly reduce symptoms. Studies have found that 60-85% of people who complete ERP treatment achieve significant reduction in their OCD symptoms. That can translate into less time lost, increased productivity, less compulsive spending and more. 

One of the concerns often voiced about treatment is cost. While the cost of treatment can seem high, compare it to the thousands of dollars lost to excessive spending related to managing your symptoms, lost income due to missed days, and future potential loss of opportunity and income. 

Treatment can begin to yield significant positive changes within months of starting. Improvements in things like productivity, restored work hours, and reduced compulsive spending pay for themselves and then some. As you regain stability, the benefits and the return on your investment continue to grow.

There’s a human benefit too that goes beyond money. Treatment is an investment in your quality of life. When your symptoms are well-managed, you can pursue passions you once thought were unattainable. You can strengthen your relationships with friends and loved ones. Seeking help is a stepping stone to healthy well-being. 

Strategies for Managing Financial Stressors

While the financial impacts of OCD sound impossible to avoid, they are not inevitable or insurmountable. With a proactive, strategic approach, you can minimize or avoid financial impacts and support financial stability.

1. Flexible Budgeting: Be realistic about your OCD-related expenses (e.g., therapy, extra supplies) and include those expenses in your budget without guilt. Treat them as investments in well-being, rather than excessive spending. As you make progress, those needs will change. Consider using a budgeting app to track your spending patterns and adjust as needed.
2. Seek Affordable Care: Therapy doesn’t have to break the bank. Affordable therapy options are much more accessible than they used to be. Explore options like community clinics, university training programs, or online therapy programs (e.g., StopOCD.com) that offer services at affordable rates. Many therapists offer sliding-scale fees, too. Remember, “affordable” doesn’t mean “less than”. In fact, online therapy tends to be more affordable and has the additional benefit of removing barriers related to geographic availability and time lost due to traveling to a provider’s office, taking time off work, etc. Online therapy gives you greater control over how and when you choose to see your therapist. And even more important, online therapy has been shown in many cases to be as effective as in-office therapy. Choose a therapy option that works best for you.
3. Lean Into Your Support Networks: Online OCD communities or local support groups can be a great source of advice and support.
4. Monetize Your Downtime: If your symptoms impact your work hours, consider a side gig to supplement income and give you something positive to focus on. Gigs like freelancing, online tutoring, or even selling crafts can help offset lost income and give you a little confidence boost.
5. Automate Savings: You’ve probably heard the expression “pay yourself first” and it’s a good habit to practice. What it means is contributing to your savings before you do anything else, whether it’s $1 or $100 a month. Setting up an automatic transfer to your savings account means that you’re creating a savings buffer for those unexpected expenses and you’re taking control of your finances instead of letting them control you.
6. Talk About It: If OCD is impacting your shared finances with a loved one, talk about it. Transparency is key and lets your loved one know that you are open to working together to find solutions.
7. Celebrate the Wins: As you progress, reward and celebrate the victories. One way to do that is to take a former “OCD expense” and redirect it towards something rewarding. For example, that $10 a week you used to spend on mini hand sanitizers? Maybe you can contribute it to a vacation fund or use it to pay down a debt or treat yourself to that new set of pens you’ve been eyeing for your drawing. The idea is to reframe your recovery as a financial win. 

The Road Ahead

The financial impacts of OCD are undeniable, but they’re not the whole story. Yes, the condition can drain wallets and derail plans, but it also opens doors to growth and empowerment. A therapist can help you find your path to healing and help you learn to manage the economic impacts of OCD. 

By viewing treatment as an investment—rather than a cost—individuals can reclaim their time, energy, and resources. 

Ready to invest in you? StopOCD therapists are ready to help. 

References

1. Ruscio, A. M., Stein, D. J., Chiu, W. T., & Kessler, R. C. (2010). The epidemiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder in the national comorbidity survey replication. Molecular Psychiatry, 15(1), 53-63. https://www.nature.com/articles/mp200894

2. Asnaani, A., Kaczkurkin, A. N., Alpert, E., McLean, C. P., Simpson, H. B., & Foa, E. B. (2017). The effect of treatment on quality of life and functioning in OCD. Comprehensive psychiatry, 73, 7–14. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5263110/

3. Brakoulias, V., Starcevic, V., Belloch, A., Brown, C., Ferrao, Y. A., Fontenelle, L. F., Lochner, C., Marazziti, D., Matsunaga, H., Miguel, E. C., Reddy, Y. C. J., do Rosario, M. C., Shavitt, R. G., Shyam Sundar, A., Stein, D. J., Torres, A. R., & Viswasam, K. (2017). Comorbidity, age of onset and suicidality in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): An international collaboration. Comprehensive psychiatry, 76, 79–86. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28433854/

4. Yan, J., Cui, L., Wang, M., Cui, Y., & Li, Y. (2022). The efficacy and neural correlates of ERP-based therapy for OCD & TS: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Integrative Neuroscience, 21(3). https://www.imrpress.com/journal/JIN/21/3/10.31083/j.jin2103097/htm