Luke Combs on His ‘Wicked’ Battle with OCD
Country star Luke Combs recently revealed his struggle with purely obsessional OCD, a rare form of obsessive-compulsive disorder that lacks visible compulsions but causes intense mental distress.
A Relentless Mental Health Challenge
In a 60 Minutes interview, Combs described the disorder as “particularly wicked” due to its intrusive nature. “You giving any credence to what the thoughts are is irrelevant and only fuels you having more of them,” he explained.
Unlike common OCD behaviors like handwashing or checking, purely obsessional OCD manifests through obsessive thoughts. Combs shared that during flare-ups, he fixates on thoughts for nearly every minute of the day, sometimes for weeks.
Learning to Cope
The “When It Rains It Pours” singer admitted that his OCD has disrupted his life, but he has learned to manage it by shifting his perspective. “It held me back so many times, but when it happens now, I’m not afraid of it. I know I’m not going to be like this forever.”
Combs’ Early Struggles with OCD
Combs first experienced OCD symptoms in middle school. In a 2021 interview, he described how his obsessive thoughts often revolved around health fears. “Like I’ll be worried that I’m about to have a heart attack or a stroke, and it becomes this very obsessive thing that you can never have an answer to.”
By sharing his journey, Combs continues to raise awareness about OCD and mental health, helping to break the stigma surrounding these conditions.
