It is not uncommon for most people to worry, feel anxious, or even have superstitious thoughts at times. However, when these feelings become overwhelming and take over your life it then becomes a serious problem. Obsessions are excessive and repeated thoughts that interfere with daily life. These obsessions can include disturbing, intrusive worry about leaving the stove on, fears that one has become contaminated with germs, fear that you caused a car accident or hurt someone, concern that you have a disease or condition. The list of obsessions can go on and on. The obsessions are not usually based in reality but for the OCD sufferer they are unable to let these thoughts go. They become terribly anxiety provoking and debilitating.
Compulsions are a way for the OCD sufferer to try and reduce the anxiety and overwhelming feelings caused by the obsessions. They are repeated physical or mental acts that are done in a very precise way. For example, a person will wash their hands over and over to try and reduce the fear that they have become contaminated. A person might lock and unlock their front door a certain number of times to try and reduce their anxiety and count while they are doing this compulsion. Mental compulsions can include repeating a prayer and actually mentally counting the number of times they say the prayer to try and counter a feeling of anxiety. Unfortunately no matter how many times the OCD sufferer repeats these compulsions, there is very little to no relief. These compulsions often get worse over time and take longer periods of time out of the day. Ultimately, without help, the OCD sufferer will often become a hostage to these Obsessions and Compulsions to the point that they will have difficulty maintaining healthy relationships, going to school, working, and performing daily life tasks. The OCD becomes the persons full time job. It often causes people to feel extremely fatigued emotionally and physically.
The good news is that with consistant therapautic intervention and in some cases medication, OCD is treatable. With the use of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Exposure and Response Prevention in a structured therapautic environment, the OCD sufferer can regain control over this challenging disorder.
For more information about Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, please visit: www.ocfoundation.org.
Please click below to take the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (YBOCS) to assess for the severity of OCD. This test can be printed out to provide to your Cognitive Behavioral Therapist.
Call for a free confidential phone consultation. (805)453-2347
