What is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder or “OCD”?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD is an often misunderstood diagnosis given the wide range of symptoms, even among professional therapists and experts in the field. Many people routinely associate OCD with organization, tidiness or cleanliness, but do not realize that it can encompass much more suffering than that.
What are “Obsessions & Compulsions?”
Obsessions are persistent thoughts, or even fears, that the person experiences as intrusive and unwanted. These can arise at any moment, and there is often no trigger. They are very distressing, and often very disturbing to the individual because they feel real at first, and even when the person knows they “should not” focus on the obsession, it feels impossible not to. There are a number of areas where people can struggle with OCD, including aggressive obsessions, contamination obsessions, sexual obsessions, hoarding/saving obsessions, religious obsessions, obsessions with need for symmetry or exactness, somatic obsessions, and other miscellaneous obsessions like needing to know or remember certain things, fear of saying certain things, or feeling like you fear not knowing how to say “just the right thing.”
Compulsions or Rituals are behaviors or mental acts performed in an attempt to get rid of or neutralize obsessive thoughts or feelings. These could include any number of repetitive behaviors that may become more consuming over time and debilitating to one’s daily life.
Compulsions may include mental rituals (e.g., a particular phrase or number written out in your head; counting or checking; prayer or cleaning), and it may involve seeking-reassurance from others or from exhaustive research (e.g., Asking Family For Assurances, Researching on Internet extensively). Many people struggle with cleaning/washing rituals or compulsions, checking compulsions, repeating rituals such as rereading words or rewriting words, counting compulsions, ordering/arranging compulsions, hoarding/collecting compulsions, and other miscellaneous compulsions like needing to touch, tap or rub, superstitious behavior, or trichotillomania.
Ultimately, some forms of OCD don’t have clear obsessions, and many people with OCD don’t actually believe their obsessions; however, they are so distressing that they want to get rid of them and/or they may fear they cannot tolerate the distress associated with the obsessions, so they engage in their compulsions.
We Can Effectively Treat OCD for the Long-Run.
At Denver Emotional Health, we know how to treat OCD for the long-run; it requires more than traditional talk therapy, and more than just mere exposure therapy. Contact us today to schedule your free phone consultation or appointment. Our Denver, and remote/online, therapists and counselors can help you treat your anxiety, OCD or OCD-related symptoms, and get you back on track in your life.
Learn more about legal psychedelic-assisted therapies we offer that can help you with your struggles.