OCD

Today I want to dive into OCD.  Let's talk about what it is, symptoms of OCD, and some ways to heal from it.

The National Institute of Mental Health defines OCD as this: "OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) is a long-lasting disorder in which a person experiences uncontrollable and recurring thoughts (obsessions), engaging in repetitive behaviors (compulsions), or both".  People with OCD have time consuming symptoms that can cause significant distress and interfere with daily life.

Let's break it down a little more.  Obsessions are defined as "repeated thoughts, urges, or mental images that are intrusive, unwanted, and make most people anxious".  Some common obsessions are:

• Fear of germs or contamination.
• Fear of forgetting, losing or misplacing something. 
• Aggressive thoughts toward others or oneself.
• Unwanted, forbidden, or taboo thoughts involving sex, religion, or harm. 
• The desire to have things symmetrical or in perfect order. 

Compulsions are defined as "repetitive behaviors a person feels the urge to do, often in response to an obsession".  Common compulsions include:

• Excessive cleaning or handwashing.
• Ordering or arranging items in a particular, precise way.
• Repeatedly checking things, such as that the door is locked.
• Compulsive counting.
• Praying or repeating words silently.

Not all repeated thoughts are obsessions, and not all rituals or habits are compulsions, however, people with OCD generally cannot control their obsession or compulsions, even when they know they are excessive.  It is very common for people with OCD to also have a diagnosed mood disorder or anxiety disorder.

Symptoms of OCD may start slowly and can go away for a while or worsen as time passes.  For most people, during times of stress, the symptoms will get worse.  Most people with OCD will use avoidance as a coping mechanism.  I personally can contest to this as being my number 1 go to for coping.  It is always easier to avoid triggers, but unfortunately, this tends to make the problem much worse.  People with OCD will also sometimes turn to drugs and/or alcohol to cope.  

Treatment for OCD can look different for everyone.  Most mental health professionals treat OCD with psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of both.  Psychotherapy can be an extremely effective treatment for both adults and children with OCD.  Different types of psychotherapy include:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT):  you hear me talk about CBT a lot.  I strongly believe in the benefits of it.  CBT is a type of talk therapy that helps people recognize harmful or untrue ways of thinking so they can more clearly view and respond to challenging situations.  CBT helps people learn to question negative thoughts, determine how they impact their feelings and actions, and change self-defeating behavior patterns. 
• Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy (ERP): research shows that ERP effectively reduces compulsive behaviors, even for people who do not respond well to medication.  With ERP, people spend time in a safe environment that gradually exposes them to situations that trigger their obsession (such as touching dirty objects) and prevent them from engaging in their typical compulsive behavior (such as handwashing).  ERP is regarded as the most effective treatment for OCD. 
• Medication: the most common medications prescribed to treat OCD are antidepressants that target serotonin.  Most people with OCD find that medication, often in combination with psychotherapy, can help them manage their symptoms.

Although there is no cure for OCD (or most mental illnesses), treatment helps people to manage their symptoms, engage in day-to-day activities, and lead full lives.  I know personally how hard OCD can be to live with, and I consider my OCD mild compared to what many people deal with.  My particular OCD deals with ruminating that leads to excoriation (skin picking).  (My next blog will dig more into rumination).  I currently take medication and do CBT to help with not only my OCD symptoms, but also my anxiety.

If you are dealing with symptoms of OCD, whether mild or severe, please reach out to a mental health professional to talk about treatment options that are right for you!