Country music legend Luke Combs has recently opened up about his long-standing battle with a rare form of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), shedding light on the challenges he has faced. Combs first encountered symptoms around the age of 12 or 13. Over the years, these intrusive thoughts have been affecting both his personal life and professional career. He recalls instances where the condition has been ‘’Consuming him’’ with severe panic attacks lasting for weeks, occupying his thoughts almost constantly. He stated “It held me back so many times in my life where you’re trying to accomplish something, you’re doing really great, and then you have a flare-up, and it just ruins your whole life for six months.” He recently experienced one of his worst flare-ups in years, while on his tour in Australia. This episode served as a reminder of the persistent nature of OCD and the effect required to manage it effectively.  

OCD is commonly associated with repetitive behaviors or mental acts aimed at reducing anxiety related to obsessions, and include excessive cleaning, checking, counting, ordering, and seeking reassurance. However, Combs experiences a different kind of OCD known as Purely Obsessional OCD, or ‘’Pure O’’, which is characterized by intrusive, unwanted thoughts without visible compulsions. He describes it as ‘’thoughts that you don’t want to have, and they cause you stress and then the stress causes you to have more bad thoughts. He has learned that the less he worries about these thoughts, the more they fade over time. He describes it as a mental cycle where stress makes it worse, so reducing stress helps. Recognizing that intrusive thoughts do not define him has been crucial in managing his symptoms. This approach has helped him reduce the frequency and intensity of these intrusive thoughts over time

Through years of dealing with this, Combs has developed strategies to manage his OCD. He emphasizes the importance of accepting the existence of intrusive thoughts. His openness encourages conversations about OCD , especially among his fanbase. By sharing his story, Combs aims to raise awareness about ‘’Pure O’’ and provide hope to others facing similar struggles. He aspires to demonstrate that its possible to lead a possible and successful life while managing mental health challenges, stating, ‘’I want to be an example for those kids who don’t have any hope.’’