Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is characterized by unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions), along with behavioral urges (compulsions) that are meant to neutralize the anxiety. People with OCD are plagued by doubt, uncertainty, questioning, and the desire for answers, certainty, or for things to be “just right”.
Some common themes seen with OCD are:
Contamination OCD, including feeling “gross” or fear of becoming sick
Order and symmetry OCD
Harm OCD, fear of hurting others
Relationship OCD (ROCD), obsessing over whether the relationship is “right” or over the partner
Responsibility OCD, such as whether you turned off the stove or locked the door
Health OCD/health anxiety
Postpartum OCD
Religious OCD/moral scrupulosity
Sexual orientation OCD
Pedophilia OCD (POCD), or fear of being a pedophile
OCD often goes hand in hand with perfectionism. People with OCD often demonstrate a rigidity in their thinking, and there may be lots of rules that they live by, known or unknown to them. Before receiving a proper diagnosis, many people with OCD believe that they are experiencing anxiety. However, OCD requires tailored treatment.
The gold standard treatment for OCD is Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), which involves exposure to situations that trigger obsessive thoughts (exposure) while preventing the corresponding compulsive behavior (response prevention). Over time, this helps reduce the anxiety associated with obsessions, and has been shown to be highly effective. Cognitive restructuring and mindfulness-based strategies are also used to help accept thoughts and feelings without judgment, allowing them to pass without acting on them.
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