What is Obsessive-compulsive Disorder?
Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health disorder that can cause significant distress if not treated.
OCD consists of two main parts
Obsessions - unwanted thoughts, mental images or feelings that cause distress
Compulsions - persistent ritualistic thoughts and behaviours used to rid of discomfort and obsessions.
It is considered disordered when an individuals spends more than one hour obsessing or completing compulsions.
A list of obsessions:
Aggressive
Fear of harming self/others
Violent of horrific Images
Embarrassing self
Contamination
Dirt and germs
Sticky substances or residue
Poisoned or being sick
Sexual
Forbidden sexual thoughts, images or impulses
Content related to children
Content related to sexuality
Hoarding
Saving objects
Saving information and data
Religious
Excessive distress related to the need of being morally right
Concerns with Sacrilege and blasphemy
Symmetry or “Just rightness”
The need for symmetry and exactness
Common Compulsions:
Checking and rechecking
Reassurance seeking
Confessing
Moving objects for order and symmetry
Washing, cleaning and wiping
Praying
Counting
Tapping
Avoiding
Treatment for OCD
The gold standard treatment for OCD is through Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy. The treatment model focuses of exposing the individual to their fears without completing compulsive behaviours. Your therapist will work with you through exposing to progressively more difficult tasks. Through exposure the individual learns to tolerate the fear until it no longer causes significant distress.