OCD Therapy
Are OCD Symptoms Interfering With Your Life?
Are you experiencing obsessive thoughts and fears that you just can’t shake? Have you found yourself carrying out the same repetitive behaviors to briefly find reprieve from these fears? Do you struggle to work, attend school, or participate in social gatherings because of your obsessions or compulsions?
People with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) may have difficulty managing intrusive obsessive thoughts. Or, they may feel like they must engage in compulsive behaviors like strict routines, checking for constant reassurance, counting and repeating tasks, washing and cleaning, praying excessively, or ordering items and completing tasks in a specific way. You may worry that something terrible will happen if you don’t constantly think about or carry out one of these routines. You might fear disease or contamination, harm to yourself or others, unwanted sexual thoughts, or consequences for breaking religious guidelines. But obsessing over or engaging in compulsions don’t bring lasting relief, and the cycle continues each day.
OCD Causes Intense Distress And Anxiety
OCD is often misunderstood. Many people with this condition don’t realize that their symptoms are indicative of OCD and initially attribute their fears and compulsions to chronic stress or a deep character flaw. Perhaps you previously chalked up your symptoms to anxiety, but as your compulsions have worsened, you’ve gradually begun to suspect that you might be suffering from OCD.
If you’re living with OCD, you may try to hide your compulsions out of a concern for being “found out.” This can leave you isolated or spark conflicts in close relationships. You desperately wish you could ask for help, but you’re ashamed of your compulsions and worry that others will judge you.
You might feel like you’ll be stuck in an endless loop of anxious thoughts and compulsions. But with support from a therapist, you can make sense of your thoughts and fears, understand why you engage in these rituals, and gradually break out of these patterns and manage your OCD.
Everyone Deals With Upsetting Thoughts And Compulsions Sometimes
Obsessive thinking and engaging in rituals or behaviors to soothe your anxiety on occasion is normal. It is common to have intrusive or obsessive thoughts sometimes, like worrying about getting sick from outside germs. Or you may double-check that you locked the front door from time to time. Habits like this can be harmless.
But someone with OCD frequently experiences anxiety-inducing thoughts persistently, and they cause significant distress. It often feels like they have no choice but to obsess over the thought or engage in specific compulsions and rituals to deal with their stress. They obsess over the thoughts or carry out these compulsions so often that it begins to interfere with their daily functioning.
It’s Hard To Overcome The Cycle Of Anxiety And Compulsive Behaviors
While there is no singular cause for OCD, genetics can play a role in developing this condition. Many people start experiencing OCD symptoms in childhood or as young adults. This condition can also flare up during stressful times. Sometimes, OCD is linked to perfectionism. People may feel like their obsessions and compulsions can protect them from facing catastrophic consequences if they make mistakes, but over time, these intrusive thoughts and rituals can inhibit their daily functioning.
OCD is characterized by the cycle of obsessions, anxiety, compulsions, and temporary relief. The obsessive thoughts become associated with anxiety, while the compulsions are linked to a brief sense of relief. It’s difficult for people with OCD to stop engaging in obsessive and compulsive behaviors because the momentary relief they feel after carrying out the ritual only reinforces the cycle. These patterns start to feel ingrained and uncontrollable.
Furthermore, people often feel ashamed of their obsessions and compulsions, and they may try to keep their thoughts and behaviors a secret from their loved ones, which only makes it harder to reach out for help. Through counseling for OCD, you can let go of your obsessive thoughts and fears and alleviate the anxiety that accompanies them without engaging in compulsive behaviors.
Therapy For OCD Can Help You Let Go Of Your Fears
If you’ve been hiding your obsessions and compulsions from your family and friends, and you feel ashamed of your symptoms, the thought of talking to a therapist might be anxiety-inducing. At Foothills CBT, our therapists take a compassionate approach to OCD treatment. We understand that living with OCD is taxing, and your counselor will make every effort to ensure you feel comfortable and relaxed during therapy.
What To Expect In OCD Therapy Sessions
You will collaborate with your therapist to pinpoint your individual patterns of unwanted thoughts and compulsive behaviors. They will guide you through a full assessment of your habits and establish a hierarchy ranking your most to least anxiety-provoking behaviors or thoughts. Once you’ve identified the specific patterns you need to break, your therapist will help you learn to gradually navigate these situations until you’re able to calmly face these scenarios without engaging in compulsions.
Treatment Approaches For OCD
At Foothills CBT, our approach to OCD treatment centers around a form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) known as Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). Exposure and Response prevention is the gold standard, most effective treatment available for OCD. Using ERP, your therapist will support you as you face your fears through exposure while learning response prevention, which means letting go of the urge to carry out your compulsions.
What does ERP look like in practice? It completely depends on your specific fears and compulsions. For example, someone with OCD might fear hitting another person while driving and compulsively check if they drive over a pothole or speed bump to see if they hurt somebody. ERP would involve intentionally driving over bumps without checking while your therapist is by your side in the passenger seat. Your therapist will never introduce you to a situation that you aren’t ready for, and treatment will move forward based on your own pace.
Your therapist will also equip you with plenty of strategies for coping with anxiety in a healthy way. They will walk you through mindfulness techniques, work with you to build your distress tolerance, and help you practice scripting and imagining different scenarios to visualize how you would handle them. You’ll also work on cognitive restructuring and defusion, which enables you to notice and observe your thoughts without ruminating.
If you’ve been dealing with OCD symptoms for a long time, you might feel like you’ll never be free from this condition. But with guidance from a therapist, you can learn how to manage the thoughts that prompt your anxiety, reduce your compulsive behaviors, and finally break the vicious cycle of OCD.
But You May Still Have Questions About OCD Therapy…
How long will I need therapy for OCD?
Studies indicate that people generally start to experience genuine relief from their symptoms after about 12 to 18 ERP sessions. Therefore, we typically recommend weekly ERP sessions for about three months to achieve significant progress in reducing your symptoms. However, people with severe OCD symptoms can benefit greatly from a longer course of treatment and enjoy a higher quality of life with additional therapy sessions.
How beneficial are treatments like CBT/ERP?
CBT/ERP is the most effective form of treatment for people with OCD. Research shows that ERP can even be more beneficial than medication (SSRIs) for OCD. Most individuals who have gone through a course of ERP report experiencing only mild, residual OCD symptoms afterward.
Do you prescribe medication for OCD?
As psychologists, our staff cannot prescribe medication. But while we specialize in treating OCD with ERP, we recognize that ERP in combination with medication can be a highly effective approach to treatment for some people. Therefore, if medication might be the right choice for you, we can refer you to a reputable psychologist for medication management and work closely with them to develop your treatment plan.
You Can Find Freedom From Obsessive Thoughts And Compulsions
If your OCD symptoms have disrupted your life and left you feeling trapped, you can escape the cycle of anxiety and compulsive habits with professional support. To learn more about our approach to therapy for OCD, you can email us at intake@foothillscbt.com or call our office at 720-432-7061 to book a session or speak with a provider for a free, 10-minute consultation.