Empathetic Care for Those With 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 disgust, anxious, and / or distressed.
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. Compulsive behaviors can be overt (performed externally) or covert (internal rituals).
Symptoms of OCD
Common signs, according to the Mayo Clinic, of OCD are:
- Intrusive thoughts
- Constant checking
- Constant counting
- The repeated cleaning or arranging of one or more items
- Reassurance seeking
- Fear of contamination
- Hoarding
- Thoughts that you might be harmed
- Thoughts that you might cause others harm
- Sexually intrusive thoughts
- Religious or morality themed obsessions
- Body focused repetitive behaviors, such as skin picking or hair pulling (may or may not be OCD)
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) and/or medication. The most effective treatment for body focused repetitive behaviors are CBT with Habit Reversal Training (HRT).
Reach Out to Our Therapists
As a licensed mental health professionals, we have extensive training in helping patients overcome and grow from their OCD. And together, we’ll create a strategy that works explicitly for you. Contact us today for a free consultation.