Many celebrities with OCD have come forward over the past few years to talk about their mental health issues and their journey with OCD. It is a mental illness that can affect anyone, including those who are constantly in the spotlight. Like other mental illnesses, OCD does not discriminate based on fame and status.
It is well known that OCD is accompanied by obsessions (strong, intrusive thoughts that the person wishes to avoid) and compulsions (behaviours a person adopts to reduce the obsessions).
However, OCD isn’t just about a penchant for cleaning and organizing, which is a common misconception. Unfortunately, the word is sometimes used loosely, even by celebrities. Still, there are several celebrities with OCD who have shared authentic experiences with the condition.
Celebrities With OCD: How Many Do You Know?
Several celebrities with OCD have shed light on something that’s often overlooked: Those in the spotlight become more vulnerable to public criticism and discrimination.
It’s also important to remember that there are different types of OCD and not all celebrities with OCD have the same type. Here’s a short list of celebrities who have openly shared their experiences with OCD.
1) Leonardo DiCaprio
DiCaprio’s struggle with symmetry. (Image via Getty)
Among celebrities with OCD, even the most popular among off-the-beaten-track celebrities may have struggled with their condition for a long time.
Actor Leonardo DiCaprio speaks volumes about environmental causes and protecting ancient cultures. However, did you know that he struggles with an obsessive need for symmetry and balance? In an interview with The Mirror, Dicaprio revealed:
“When I tell others I have OCD, they think it’s a cleansing thing. That’s not the case for me.”
You might think that this could be a good trait for someone, but for a person with OCD it can be a nightmare.
2) Justin Timberlake
When symmetry becomes a nightmare. (Image via Gettyimages/getty)
As an actor and singer, symmetry can be an essential part of your work. For Justin, however, arranging objects in a straight line is an obsession. Justin also revealed in a 2006 interview with Diane Sawyer:
“I have OCD mixed with ADD. Try to live with it. It’s complicated.”
Like many other people with OCD, this tendency stems from a need to control outcomes or your environment. OCD is a type of anxiety disorder. When you are plagued by anxiety, you feel a loss of control, and engaging in compulsion gives you some control.
3) Cameron Diaz
Cameron has never been shy about speaking his mind, including on mental health. (Image via Gettyimages/Getty)
Former model and actress Cameron Diaz has spoken openly about her experiences with OCD. Diaz reportedly had a longstanding fear of germs. This is often referred to as the contamination type of OCD.
In a 2014 interview with Good Housekeeping Magazine, Diaz revealed that
“I had a germ phobia but came to terms with it.”
4) Howie Mandel
Behind the smiling faces, Howie hides a great fear of contagion. (Image via Gettyimages/Getty)
Howie Mandel is best known as a comedian and host who actively speaks about the OCD experience. Like Diaz, Mandel also suffers from obsessive-compulsive contamination disorder.
Due to the illness, Mandel is afraid of physical contact. Howie has also written an autobiography about his intense fears, titled Here Is the Deal: Don’t Touch Me. He reveals in the book
“I like punching people while keeping my head shaved.”
5) BTS Suga
Suga has used his creative media to talk about his experiences with OCD. (Image via Gettyimages/Getty)
Suga, a member of South Korean band BTS, has used his worldwide exposure to speak out about mental health in general and his own experiences. Suga has also spoken openly about depression and OCD in his songs.
In a round of interviews with Rolling Stone, Suga also spoke about the importance of letting your emotions flow, rather than suppressing them all. Suga also shed light on his feelings and thoughts,
“They need to be discussed and expressed. Whatever feelings I’m feeling, I’m always ready to express them now.”
6) Camila Cabello
Camila is one of the celebrities with OCD who initially struggled with fears of stigma. (Image via Gettyimages/Getty)
Camila Cabello has also shed light on her experiences of shame and stigma that have long kept her from seeking help for anxiety and OCD. In an early 2020 essay in The Wall Street Journal, Cabello revealed:
“Far from being a sign of weakness, it is powerful to acknowledge our problems and take the steps to heal.”
Cabello’s experience with anxiety and mental health hasn’t been easy. She has used an integrated approach of cognitive behavioral therapy, meditation, breathwork, and self-care that has helped her manage her OCD.
Famous people with OCD are just like any of us when it comes to managing their mental health. Nobody is blessed with excellent mental health, rather everyone works and strives to improve it.
Just like the celebrities with OCD, it’s important for you to know that talking about your symptoms doesn’t make you weak. Rather, it makes you better when you do something for your well-being. At the same time, it’s important to look at these celebrities with OCD from an empathetic perspective and give them the opportunity to rejuvenate in their private space.
Janvi Kapur is a consultant with a master’s degree in applied psychology specializing in clinical psychology.
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