Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, or OCD, involves having obsessive thinking patterns that can include unwanted thoughts, images or urges that make a person feel anxious, distressed, or disgusted.
Individuals who have OCD often have significant difficulty pushing away or ignoring these thoughts. Those with OCD also have compulsive behaviors which are an attempt to reverse the obsessive thoughts or urges by performing some sort of action. These actions can be overt (behaviors) or covert (cognitive).
Common signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, of OCD are:
- Intrusive thoughts and images
- Constant checking
- Constant counting
- Constant rumination
- The repeated cleaning of one or more items
- Constantly checking the stove or door locks
- Fear of contamination
- Avoidance
- Hoarding
- Thoughts that you might be harmed
- Thoughts that you might cause others harm
- Sexually intrusive thoughts
- Intrusive thoughts about morals or religion
If one or more of the above symptoms resonates with you, I encourage you to look into OCD therapy today. Research shows that the most effective treatments for OCD are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and/or medication.
As a licensed mental health professional, I have extensive training in helping patients overcome and learn to manage their OCD. And together, we’ll create a strategy that works explicitly for you. Contact me today for a free consultation.