Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: What is it & How do We Treat it?
According to the Mental Health Foundation, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a type of anxiety disorder characterized by intrusive and frequent obsessions and repetitive and ritualistic behaviors. Millions of people struggling with OCD experience unwanted thoughts that threaten them with doom, resulting in fear towards their own minds.
About 2.3% of U.S. adults will have OCD in their lifetime. Though anyone can develop OCD, it’s diagnosed more often in females than males.
It is important to distinguish between the different types of OCD to identify your symptoms as they can vary widely from person to person. The forms of OCD include:
Someone who experiences checking will feel compelled to check that doors and windows are locked, and the stove is off repeatedly until they feel at ease that they are not responsible for danger or hurting another person.
Someone who experiences ordering feels things need to be in an exact order or spot and repeats these actions until it feels “right.” This can include silently rearranging items, whispering words to themselves, counting words, or insisting their personal belongings remain untouched where they last kept them.
Someone who experiences excessive washing and cleaning fears contamination for themselves, or fears they might contaminate others. The fear of possible contamination leads to excessive washing in an attempt to ease fears.
Someone who experiences scrupulosity obsesses over religious or moral issues where they may excessively pray, and seek reassurance they are morally sound. This fear stems from the need to “perfectly” maintain religious rules and practices.
Someone with obsessional OCD experiences unwanted thoughts, usually without a compulsion. These thoughts can be surrounding causing danger to others, themselves, becoming homosexual, molesting their children, or generally losing control. These intrusive thoughts become louder as they are pushed down, or accompanied by rituals to ensure they do not come true.
Someone with hoarding has difficulty throwing away things most people would not think twice about. They develop a strong attachment to insignificant items and fear letting them go.
Now, I want to reassure you that if you read that list and think you have OCD, this is normal. It is essential to discuss what OCD is not to be able to distinguish between symptoms and normal thinking/worrying.
OCD is not characterized as being a perfectionist who likes keeping their space neat and tidy. Everyone worries excessively at times, and this is completely normal and separate from OCD. People perform compulsions and give their attention to small details without having a diagnosis of OCD. Some may perform repetitive actions based on their culture or religion, not stemming from OCD. Therefore, how do you know?
How do I know if I have OCD?
Someone with OCD has worrying that is both excessive and irrational. Someone without OCD may worry excessively, but it stems from rationality. These intrusive, unwanted thoughts or rituals usually affect someone’s daily functioning as they may become inflexible or debilitating.
The common underlying theme here is the fear of change and uncertainty. What happens if you don’t perform that ritual? What will you do to feel safe without checking, cleaning, etc.?
Preparing for this change is important for taking control of your fears and changing the narrative. You are safe outside of your OCD, these are just reinforced beliefs that have made you believe you are safe.
Treatment:
The most common treatment for OCD is therapy. This can be Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy. Both these types of treatment allow clients to face their OCD by reframing, talking through their fears, and exposing clients to their fears. If you are someone who is struggling with intrusive thoughts or compulsions, please schedule a free consultation at Be You Psychotherapy.
*Be You Psychotherapy is also running a support group for OCD/Anxiety this upcoming October. Feel free to fill out the form linked here if you would like to join or learn more about our new program!*
