During a revealing interview on February 9 with 60 Minutes Australia, country artist Luke Combs shared his personal battle with Pure Obsessional OCD, a condition he first encountered in his early teenage years. He admitted that these intrusive thoughts left him feeling “crippled,”significantly hampering his ability to cultivate his musical talents.
Combs described his variant of OCD as “particularly wicked,”citing its elusive nature. He remarked:
“There’s no outward manifestation of it.”
Unlike the typical behaviors often associated with OCD, such as repeatedly flicking light switches, Combs highlighted that his struggles are internal. He illustrated this point by saying:
“The flicking of the light switch is all going on in here for me.”
In his discussion with host Adam Hegarty, Combs noted that often, those around him were unaware of the tumultuous thoughts occurring in his mind. Conventional understanding of OCD typically revolves around visible compulsions. But Pure O leads individuals to experience overwhelming mental compulsions, constantly cycling through distressing thoughts.
Insights Into Luke Combs’ Daily Struggles with OCD
Adam Hegarty commended Combs for his openness regarding mental health issues, inquiring whether he continued to face challenges from OCD. The singer affirmed:
“I do really well with it for the most part.”
However, he explained that remnants of his condition linger in his daily life “to some extent.”Notably, leading up to his recent trip to Australia, Combs experienced one of his most severe flare-ups in years, which he described as impacting the first two weeks of his journey through an escalation of “rumination”and OCD-related thoughts.
When asked about compulsive behaviors like flicking locks, Combs elaborated on his unique kind of OCD that involves intrusive thoughts, leading to substantial stress. He explained:
“You’re stressed out, and then the stress causes you to have more of the thoughts and then you don’t understand why you’re having them…”
He conveyed the complexity of his condition, noting it can be quite “tedious”to rise above it. Thankfully, he has cultivated strategies to manage these episodes effectively.
As the conversation progressed, Combs described the nature of his intrusive thoughts, which are often irrelevant and unnecessary. Instead of delving into the origins of these thoughts, he emphasized a simpler approach: treating them with indifference.
He articulated the importance of accepting these unpleasant thoughts, despite their distressing nature, asserting:
“The less you worry about why you’re having the thoughts, eventually, they go away.”
When discussing the variety of intrusive thoughts, Combs pointed out that they can range from religious doubts to “intrusively violent”scenarios. He remarked that his mind generates questions with no clear answers, which only amplifies his anxiety. However, he believes that learning to disregard these questions can liberate individuals from their grip.
Luke Combs also shared how these thoughts often overwhelm him during live performances, where he usually plays to crowds of 50,000 to 70,000. He described this experience as “all-consuming.”
Reflecting on his journey, Combs characterized OCD flare-ups as enduring thoughts that may last weeks, but he now possesses the tools to better cope with them. He expressed feeling 90% improved, stating he no longer fears his thoughts as he once did.
In a motivational conclusion, the 35-year-old highlighted that individuals grappling with OCD can achieve success in their lives, breaking the stigma associated with mental health challenges.