What is OCD really like? Inside the mind of someone living with it | Mourice Schuurmans, ObsessLess Founder

What Mourice Schuurmans Taught Me About the Real Face of OCD

If you’ve ever had an intrusive thought so disturbing that you couldn’t bring yourself to say it out loud, you might have asked yourself a terrifying question:

“What if this means something about me?”

In the first episode of the Anxiety Fitness Podcast, I sat down with Mourice Schuurmans, the founder of the OCD support app ObsessLess, to talk about the truth behind obsessive-compulsive disorder. Spoiler: it’s not about being tidy or organized. It’s not “cute.” And it’s not what most of us have been told.

“It’s like getting a call from the police saying your loved one has been shot—and it’s your fault. And that happens in your head multiple times a day.”
— Mourice Schuurmans

OCD Isn’t What You Think It Is

For Mourice, OCD has meant confronting thoughts so intense and taboo that many therapists won’t even mention them on air. For Mourice, he bravely shared that some of his thoughts involved themes of harming or violence.

“OCD is ego-dystonic. It goes against your values. That’s what makes it so terrifying. You’re not scared of what you want to do. You’re scared of what you could do.”

These thoughts come with a flood of panic and fear, often leading to compulsions—behaviors meant to neutralize the anxiety. That might mean checking something repeatedly, asking for reassurance, mentally reviewing everything you've done, or avoiding entire parts of life.

“You can find relief—but only for about 10 seconds. Then the doubt comes back, stronger. That’s the trap of OCD.”

Why OCD Is So Often Misdiagnosed

Many people, including Mourice, are initially diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, health anxiety, or panic disorder. It took him nearly two decades to get a proper OCD diagnosis—despite struggling with compulsive behaviors since childhood.

“When I was a kid, I thought if I didn’t think a certain way, my parents would die. I’d try to think things in reverse to cancel them out. That’s how it started.”

Even after diagnosis, Mourice had to wait eight months for therapy.

That long delay—combined with the stigma and misunderstanding around OCD—can leave people feeling completely alone. That’s exactly why Mourice created ObsessLess: to give people a place to feel seen and supported in between (or while waiting for) professional care.

The Taboo Themes No One Talks About

One of the most powerful parts of our conversation came when Mourice talked about themes like harm OCD, and religious OCD—topics many people suffer with silently.

“A friend of mine was told not to mention certain themes in a radio interview. "

This is where OCD becomes isolating—and where shame does the most damage.

And no, having these thoughts doesn’t mean someone is dangerous or “secretly” wants them to be true. In fact, it’s often the fear of being that person that fuels the obsession.

So How Do You Heal?

Mourice credits his recovery to Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy, the gold standard treatment for OCD. ERP involves gradually confronting the feared thought or situation—without doing the thing that relieves the anxiety.

“I had harm OCD. One of my ERP exercises was walking through the kitchen with a knife in my hand. It didn’t mean I wanted to hurt someone—it meant I had to learn to sit with the feeling, without neutralizing it.”

That might sound terrifying. And it is. But Mourice is now in what he calls complete remission. OCD may still be on paper, but it no longer rules his life. And that, he says, is possible for many more people than currently believe it.

Why We Need to Talk About This

The goal of this episode wasn’t to diagnose people—it was to normalize the experiences that so many live with silently.

“I don’t go around announcing my OCD to strangers, but I share it publicly because I know what it’s like to feel like you’re the only one. I want people to know they’re not broken. They’re not alone.”
— Mourice

Whether you have a diagnosis or just suspect something deeper might be going on, I hope this episode helps you feel a little less alone—and more equipped to ask questions and get support.

If You’re Struggling

You don’t have to share everything on day one. You don’t have to explain your darkest thoughts to a stranger. Mourice reminded us that just saying “I think I might have OCD” is enough to start the conversation.

If you’re in distress:

• Start with a GP. You don’t need to describe the exact thoughts right away. Focus on the feelings: the fear, the patterns, the repetition.
• Visit iocdf.org for resources on OCD support.
• Check out ObsessLess.com to learn more about Mourice’s app and story.

And if you're looking for a place to share honestly and safely, the Anxiety Fitness Community is built for exactly that. No shame. No triggering spiral. Just support, weekly wins, and thoughtful conversations—with people like Mourice who truly get it.

🎧 Listen to the full podcast here

🗓️ Don’t Miss the Live Talk with Mourice – June 26th, 2025 at 19:00 (UTC+1 / London time)

Join us for a special live session with Mourice Schuurmans inside the Anxiety Fitness Community, where we’ll go even deeper into the themes from this episode—and answer your questions in real time.

👉 Join the waitlist now to be notified when signups open:
http://anxietyfitness.com/landing/waitlist

Can’t make it live? A full recording will be available for members to watch anytime.