The ocdopus is a charitable OCD advocacy and recovery shop founded by Elise, an OCD advocate who has had OCD since she was at least six years old. Elise explains on her website www.theocdopus.com, “I started this shop because OCD is terribly misunderstood, because people use it for punch lines on merchandise, and because the world does not put out products that reflect what we learn in OCD therapy. I wanted to show those with OCD that they are not alone, and that those who do not know about OCD are able to learn about it.”
The heart of Elise’s store is a simple but powerful metaphor that changed everything when she was just 10 years old:
Don’t think of a pink elephant.
What are you thinking of now? A pink elephant?
It was an exercise her therapist used to help her understand how OCD works, and it stuck with her for life. “It was one of the only things that really made sense of what I was going through,” Elise shares. “The more you tell yourself not to think a certain thought, the more it makes you think about it.” For people with OCD, this paradox is all too familiar. Obsessive thoughts can feel overwhelming and distressing. The natural urge is to push them away, but doing so only reinforces their presence.
That’s what inspired Elise to create the Pink Elephant program, a campaign combining education, awareness, and support through a symbolic plush toy. Since its debut four years ago, the Pink Elephant plushie has become one of the ocdopus’ best-selling products. And it’s easy to see why. For each elephant purchased, another is donated to a child in OCD residential treatment.
Elise made sure the plushie wasn’t just cute – it was educational. “I really wanted to use this as a tool to spread awareness and build community around OCD. I have seen a lot of charitable stuffed animals throughout my life (thinking especially of the Kohls Cares program), but I had never seen one for mental illness, let alone OCD specifically.” Each plushie includes a tag with the story of the pink elephant to help people remember what they are working towards. Over the course of four years, Elise and the ocdopus has donated 320 plushes to youth receiving residential treatment for OCD at Rogers Behavioral Health.
Above all, Elise hopes the Pink Elephant reaches those who are silently struggling. “OCD is often missed, so people don’t end up in OCD therapy, and these lessons may not be getting to the people who need them most.”
Through the Pink Elephant, Elise and the ocdopus are doing more than raising awareness. They are sparking meaningful conversations, offering hope, and helping children in treatment know they’re not alone.
Find Elise and the ocdopus on:
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/theocdopus
Website: https://www.theocdopus.com/
Instagram: @theocdopus
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theocdopus/
TikTok: @theocdopus
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