What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, or OCD, is defined by the existence of obsessions and/or compulsions. An obsession is a persistent, upsetting, intrusive thought or impulse which one tries to suppress or neutralize through a different action or thought. A compulsion is a repetitive action, such as counting, hand-washing, checking, cleaning, or saying a specific word over and over again which one feels driven to perform. Compulsions are often in response to an obsession, or to an anxiety which requires the action to be done according to strict rules. It can occur in adults or children, and is generally only diagnosed if the obsessions or compulsions are time consuming or interfere with functioning.
Treatment for OCD revolves around facing one’s fears, using ERP, exposure with response prevention. Exposure therapy is based on the idea that fear gradually reduces with time spent in the feared situation. For example, if you are afraid of dogs and you buy a puppy, your fear will gradually reduce over time as you get used to the puppy. This process is called habituation. Similarly, if you are afraid that you’ve left the front door unlocked and must therefore check the lock 12 times before leaving the house, allowing yourself to experience the fear that the door is unlocked without going to check on it will gradually help your fear to ease and your focus to return to living a valued life. Thus, exposure therapy revolves around identifying the feared obsession and slowly, with the help of the therapist, habituating to that fear without engaging in a compulsive response. Since this can be a difficult process, sometimes anxiety management skills may be an initial part of treatment to help develop coping skills as you move forward with ERP.