Jenna Ortega shares experience of living with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder since childhood
Jenna Ortega opens up to having Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) since childhood, sharing how she continues to manage living with it today.
In a new interview with Vogue, the Wednesday actress recalled experiencing what she described as multiple thoughts running through her mind when she was young. She said she could vividly remember having “a lot of different trains rolling in my brain at the same time.”
Her symptoms began to manifest in daily routines when she was around seven years old.
“I had to open the bedsheet a certain way, and open the drawer one way, and brush my hair in a slow-paced way,” she said.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, OCD is a “disorder marked by uncontrollable and recurring thoughts (obsessions), repetitive and excessive behaviors (compulsions), or both.”
Symptoms can develop at any age, although they commonly begin during late childhood or young adulthood.
“OCD symptoms are often time-consuming and can cause significant distress or interfere with daily life. It is common for people with OCD also to have a diagnosed mood or anxiety disorder. Although there is no cure for OCD, available treatments can help people manage their symptoms, participate in day-to-day activities, and improve their quality of life,” it added.
For Jenna, these experiences have continued into adulthood. She told Vogue that her compulsive behaviors tend to become more noticeable when she is anxious, exhausted, or dealing with jet lag.
During these periods, she said she often follows the routines rather than resist them.
“I just bite the bullet and do the routine,” she shared.
Some of these habits involve repeating the phrase “take care” a certain number of times throughout the day, entering a set with her left foot first, and holding her breath while counting to 71.
Jenna has sought professional help for her OCD, including working with a therapist at times and trying medication. The actress also said imagining OCD as a game has helped her cope with the experience.
While her career can sometimes contribute to her stress, Jenna explained that acting also gives her an opportunity to direct her attention elsewhere.
“You have to breathe [when the cameras are rolling],” she pointed out. “That’s another reason why I like my job.”
This is not the first time Jenna has spoken publicly about her experience with OCD. In an August 2025 interview with Vogue, she described her symptoms as “pretty intense” and revealed that she had maintained the same routine for seven years.
“I count to a certain number in the shower. I put my clothes on in a certain order,” she said at the time.
She also explained how seemingly minor changes to her routine could affect how she felt throughout the day.
“If I’m having a bad day and I don’t know why, it’s because I put the wrong sock on the wrong foot. I’m very aware of stuff like that. And while it may come across as silly, and I can acknowledge that, it also brings me some sort of comfort,” she added.