Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Unfortunately, OCD is widely misunderstood and often used as a stereotype for someone who likes things a certain way or is very neat and clean. You have likely heard people say things like, “I’m obsessed with that” or “I’m so OCD”. But OCD is not an adjective! OCD is a mental health and neurobiological disorder that involves obsessions and compulsions that cause significant distress and can be debilitating for many.
Obsessions are unwanted and intrusive thoughts, images, sensations, or feelings that cause significant distress. The content of these obsessions can vary widely from fears of harming others, to worries about secretly being a bad person, to fears of saying or doing something offensive or inappropriate.
Compulsions are behaviors or mental acts used to reduce distress, prevent something bad from happening, or gain a sense of certainty. Some compulsions are visible, such as repeatedly checking locks, excessive washing or cleaning, or avoiding triggering situations. Others are mental and may be invisible to others, such as replaying conversations in your mind, repeating words or phrases mentally, analyzing what something means, or seeking reassurance from others.
OCD can interfere with nearly every area of life. You might…
avoid situations, places, people, or activities that trigger their OCD
spend significant amounts of time performing rituals or mental compulsions
have difficulty concentrating at work or school
or experience strain in your relationships.
struggle with depression, hopelessness, and a poor self of self-worth.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is a highly effective, evidence-based treatment for OCD. In ERP, we will gradually and intentionally face the thoughts, images, objects, and situations that trigger your distress while refraining from the compulsive behaviors that typically provide temporary relief. Through this process, you will learn that you can experience anxiety, uncertainty, and intrusive thoughts without needing to respond to them or make them go away.
I also incorporate Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to complement ERP. ACT helps you recognize that thoughts and feelings are separate from what you choose to do, and that having an intrusive thought does not mean that you need to engage with it. Together, ERP and ACT will help you change your relationship with your thoughts, tolerate discomfort and uncertainty, and move toward the things that matter to you even when OCD is present.
In our first few sessions, we will complete an in-depth assessment of your symptoms and how OCD is impacting your life. This will help us develop a treatment plan that best fits your needs and goals so you can get back to a life that is fulfilling.