Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
What is obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)?
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition in which characterized by intrusive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive, ritualistic behaviors (compulsions).
OCD symptoms are often time-consuming and can cause significant distress or interfere with daily life. They are commonly misunderstood by those with the disorder, and even sometimes by mental health professionals.
Obsessions are unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images, or urges that trigger intensely distressing feelings. These thoughts may have themes of:
Harming yourself and/or others.
Fear of contamination or dirt.
Doubting and having a hard time dealing with uncertainty.
Needing things to be orderly and balanced.
Aggressive or horrific thoughts about losing control.
Unwanted thoughts, including aggression, or sexual or religious subjects.
Compulsions are behaviors an individual engages in to attempt to get rid of the obsessions and/or decrease distress. These may include:
Cleaning and hand washing.
Checking (such as checking doors are locked or that the gas is off).
Counting.
Ordering and arranging.
Hoarding.
Asking for reassurance.
Repeating words.
Thinking "neutralising" or “good” thoughts to counter the obsessive thoughts.
Avoiding places and situations that could trigger obsessive thoughts.
How I Can Help
For the treatment of OCD, I use a combination of Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). In ERP, a person is gradually exposed to their obsessions, and prevented from performing the associated compulsions. This teaches that a person is able to tolerate their triggering obsessive thoughts without having to give-in to the compulsive urge. While I always base treatment off of this modality, I like to use an individualized approach to treatment, which can include techiques from CBT and ACT.