What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?
Obsessions are unwanted, distressing thoughts and feelings that keep popping into your head. Obsessions create anxiety.
Compulsions are the things you do to reduce or get rid of the anxiety and the distressing thoughts and feelings caused by the obsessive thoughts. Performing compulsions makes you feel better for a little while, but the anxiety and the urge to perform the compulsions return with a vengeance.
Can OCD be Cured?
Many people say that OCD is a chronic illness that can be controlled and lived with, but cannot be cured. We believe this is because most practitioners treat OCD with only exposure. We have successfully treated many patients who did not want exposure, but have overcome their OCD when we switched to Cognitive Therapy or Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. If you suffer from OCD, we will find the therapy or the combination of therapies that works for you. By the end of treatment, most of our OCD patients have become symptom-free.
Types of OCD
Contamination OCD
Obsession – "What if I touched something contaminated?"
Compulsion – Repetitive hand washing, avoiding touching things.
Medical OCD
Obsession – "What if I have a fatal illness?"
Compulsion – Excessive medical visits and tests, frequent asking for reassurance, researching illnesses on the internet.
Checking OCD
Obsession – "What if I forgot to lock the door, and my house is burglarized?" "What if I forgot to turn off an appliance and the house burns down?"
Compulsion – Repeatedly checking the door or the appliances.
Harm OCD
Obsession – "What if I hurt my child?" "What if I sexually abused my grandchild?"
Compulsion – Repetitive checking to make sure the child is okay; avoiding your grandchild.
Hit and Run OCD
Obsession – "What if I hit a pedestrian with my car?"
Compulsion – Repeated checking in the rear-view mirror; getting out of the car and searching the area for an injured pedestrian; driving back multiple times to be sure you didn't hit someone.
"Making Things Right" OCD
Obsession – Feeling uncomfortable unless everything is "just so." Compulsion – Doing things a specific number of times. For example: washing each body part five times or doing everything on one side that you have done on the other side. Arranging things in precise order.