OCD Treatment
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition that occurs when a person becomes caught in a cycle of obsessions and compulsions.
Most people experience occasional intrusive thoughts. In order for a diagnosis of obsessive compulsive disorder to be made, the cycle of obsessions and compulsions becomes so frequent and extreme that it causes significant distress, consumes a considerable amount of time and interferes with daily functioning. Specialized OCD treatment can help.
Specialized OCD Treatment
Exposure Response Prevention (ERP) is a highly effective, evidence-based treatment used to help people manage OCD. ERP is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy that focuses on gradually and safely confronting the situations, thoughts, or sensations that trigger anxiety while learning to refrain from compulsive or avoidant behaviors. Over time, this helps reduce fear responses and gives individuals greater control over their daily lives.
ERP is a specialized OCD treatment that involves identifying intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors and then working through them step by step. By resisting the urge to perform rituals, clients learn that their anxiety naturally decreases and feared outcomes are often less likely to occur than expected. This process strengthens coping skills and diminishes the power of obsessive thoughts over time.
ERP is highly individualized. A hierarchy of fears is created, starting with less challenging triggers and gradually moving toward more difficult ones. Each step is approached in a structured and supportive manner, ensuring that clients feel safe while practicing new ways of responding to anxiety. Techniques to manage distress during exposures are introduced and reinforced throughout the process.
The benefits of ERP extend beyond symptom reduction. Clients often experience increased confidence, improved daily functioning, and greater flexibility in responding to stressors. While the process can feel challenging, it is a proven method for helping people reclaim their lives from the limitations imposed by anxiety and OCD. ERP empowers people to face their fears directly and develop lasting strategies for managing anxiety.
OCD Treatment: Obsessions
Obsessions are unwanted intrusive thoughts, images or impulses that occur over and over again and feel outside of the person’s control. People with OCD find obsessions to be disturbing and, in most cases, they realize that these thoughts don’t make sense. Obsessions are typically accompanied by intense and uncomfortable feelings such as fear, disgust, doubt or a feeling that things have to be done in a way that is “just right.”
Common obsessions pertain to:
Contamination
Violence
Responsibility
Perfectionism
Sexuality
Religion/morals
Identity
OCD Treatment:
Compulsions
Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or thoughts a person uses in an attempt to neutralize, counteract or extinguish obsessions. People with OCD realize that engaging in compulsions is only a temporary solution to rid themselves of obsessions, but without a better way to cope they rely on the compulsion as a temporary escape. Compulsions can also include avoiding situations that trigger obsessions.
Common compulsions include:
Washing and cleaning
Checking
Repeating
Engaging in mental rituals
Seeking reassurance
