What is 'Pure O'? Luke Combs' ‘debilitating’ and rare mental health condition explained
Discover the details of Luke Combs' struggle with Pure O, a rare and debilitating mental health condition. Learn how this form of OCD has impacted his life and career in this in-depth explanation.
Luke Combs, the country music superstar, recently revealed his ongoing struggle with a rare form of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) called Pure O in an exclusive interview on 60 Minutes Australia. The 35-year-old shared his personal experience with the condition, which he’s battled since he was 12 years old.
What is 'Pure O'?
Pure O, also known as purely obsessional OCD, is a form of OCD that is characterized by intrusive thoughts without the accompanying physical compulsions typically seen in the disorder. For Combs, the condition has been "debilitating" and often leads to obsessive, unwanted thoughts that cause significant distress. These thoughts can be deeply disturbing, and for Combs, some are even violent in nature.
Although Pure O is not officially recognized as a separate diagnosis in the American Psychiatric Association's "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders," Healthline explains that the term is used by professionals to differentiate it from traditional OCD, which involves both mental obsessions and physical compulsions.
Luke Combs describes his ‘debilitating’ flare-ups
During the interview, Combs spoke about his most recent "worst flare-up" that occurred while on tour. He explained that when Pure O hits, it becomes "all-consuming," with distressing thoughts occupying nearly every moment of his day. He shared that a "really bad flare-up" can last for weeks, with intrusive thoughts taking up "45 seconds of every minute."
How Luke Combs copes with Pure O
Despite the severity of his condition, Combs explained that after dealing with Pure O for over two decades, he’s learned how to manage it. He mentioned that the key to dealing with these overwhelming thoughts is to not give them any power. Combs explained that acknowledging or trying to get rid of the thoughts only makes them worse. Instead, he focuses on accepting that they happen and choosing not to engage with them.
Luke Combs says his flare-ups have gotten worse with this tour. Photo: Penn State
In addition to his battle with Pure O, Combs also manages anxiety. He shared how his struggle with mental health has shaped his personal life, especially his role as a father. Luke and his wife, Nicole Combs, have two young sons, and Combs expressed his desire to help others who may be facing the same challenges.
Raising awareness for Pure O and mental health
Luke Combs hopes that by speaking out about his mental health struggles, he can help raise awareness for conditions like Pure O, which are often misunderstood. He also mentioned his desire to eventually do outreach work to support children and young people facing similar challenges. "It’s possible to continue to live your life and be really successful and have a great family and achieve your dreams while also dealing with things that you don’t want to be dealing with," Combs shared.