You're Not Crazy: How to Break Free from the OCD and Anxiety Loop
May 07, 2025
You're Not Crazy: Understanding and Breaking the OCD & Anxiety Loop
Are you struggling with intrusive thoughts, racing heart, or panic symptoms? You're not alone—and more importantly, you're not crazy. Here at Restored Minds, we understand what it's like to feel stuck in the grip of OCD, anxiety, or stress. In this post, we’re drawing on powerful insights from a recent episode of our podcast to demystify the “anxiety loop” and, most importantly, help you find a path out.
The Truth About Anxiety: You're Stuck in a Loop, Not "Going Crazy"
One of the most common fears among people experiencing anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is the worry that they might be "going crazy." This fear can be so intense that it stops people from reaching out for help. The reality? Being stuck in an anxiety or OCD loop is a normal human experience, not a sign of madness.
According to Matt Cottey, presenter and founder of Restored Minds, the broad range of human emotions—including fear, anxiety, and even panic—is completely normal. “It’s not whether or not you’re going to experience fear in life—that’s not optional. But being stuck in the prison of fear is,” says Matt.
What is the OCD & Anxiety Loop?
The OCD and anxiety loop refers to the cycle that occurs when we experience distressing thoughts or sensations and then resist or judge them as bad. This resistance creates an internal pressure, causing the symptoms to intensify and the loop to continue.
Matt explains, “Anxiety itself is not a disease. It’s our resistance to anxiety that creates this problem. So it’s not the problem itself, it’s the resistance. Are you trying to push it away, push it down? All of that creates this internal pressure…the loop builds and builds and can take over your existence.”
Key Signs You're in the Loop
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Racing, intrusive thoughts
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Physical symptoms like a tight chest, rapid heartbeat, or panic
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Self-judgment or labeling yourself as “crazy” or broken
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Trying to force away or suppress uncomfortable emotions
If any of these sound familiar, recognize that these are normal reactions—not evidence that something is fundamentally wrong with you.
How to Break Free from the Loop
The first step? Awareness. Knowing that you are experiencing anxiety or OCD—and that you are aware of these feelings and thoughts—means you have the capacity to change.
Matt encourages, “Your awareness of the fact that you’re having them is a direct indication that you aren’t experiencing something much more significant, where you’re losing touch with reality.”
Next, shift your focus from eliminating intrusive thoughts or feelings to breaking the loop itself. Judge yourself less, accept the broad range of your emotions, and reduce the resistance. As Matt puts it, “It’s not the feeling itself or the experiences themselves, but it’s your resistance to it.”
Practical Resources for Healing
If you’re feeling stuck, hopeless, or overwhelmed, know that change is possible. Explore tools and resources at RestoredMinds.com, including a free guide and a 12-week online program, Taking Back Control, that offers support and live group sessions.
Final Message: You Are Normal
The main takeaway? You’re not crazy—you’re just in the loop. With the right tools and mindset, you can break free from anxiety and OCD cycles. It’s not about erasing thoughts or feelings, but about shifting your relationship with them.
If you benefit from content like this, consider subscribing to Restored Minds on YouTube for more guidance and encouragement. Remember, you’re not alone—and you can find calm, clarity, and control again.
