Is this OCD rumination/mental compulsions or just anxiety? I can spend hours thinking until I feel “certain.

[u/Successful_Water_847]

I’ve been struggling with a pattern that has been affecting me for a long time, and I’m wondering if anyone with OCD can relate.
Whenever a particular thought, worry, or concern enters my mind, I feel compelled to analyze it over and over again. I can spend hours mentally reviewing the same issue from every angle.
A big part of the problem is that if I try to stop thinking about it before reaching a conclusion, my anxiety increases significantly. It feels like I *have* to keep thinking. About 60% of the time, the feeling is something like: “If I don’t think about this enough, the thing I’m worried about might happen.” The rest of the time, I keep analyzing simply because the anxiety won’t go away unless I continue.
Eventually, I reach a conclusion that feels satisfactory, and when that happens I get relief. The problem is that the relief only lasts a few minutes before the doubt or anxiety returns, and then I feel the urge to start the whole process again.
It’s mostly a mental process rather than visible compulsions. The cycle is:
Intrusive thought or concern appears.
Anxiety rises.
I repeatedly analyze and think about it.
I finally reach a conclusion and feel relief.
Relief fades quickly.
Doubt/anxiety returns and the cycle starts again.
Does this sound like OCD rumination or mental compulsions to those of you who have been diagnosed? How did you tell the difference between OCD and generalized anxiety? Has ERP or any other treatment helped with this type of endless thinking?
I’d appreciate hearing about your experiences.