OCD Therapy Services
What is OCD?
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition that involves a cycle of intrusive thoughts and the behaviors meant to relieve them. The obsessive part of the disorder features repetitive thoughts that show up unwillingly, paired with the compulsion to engage in certain irrational actions. Those who suffer from OCD often are very aware that their thoughts and the subsequent behaviors don’t make sense, but are unable to stop themselves. The obsessive thoughts create anxiety and stress, driving the individual to perform their compulsive acts in order to ease that discomfort. This pattern becomes a ritual, leading to a vicious cycle that is hard to stop.
What are common OCD Symptoms?
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder can affect all ages and demographics. Often, signs begin to emerge in childhood or adolescence, although it can take some time to recognize what’s going on. While it’s possible to suffer from just obsessive thoughts or just compulsory behaviors, most people with OCD deal with both aspects of the disorder. There are certain stereotypes perpetuated in the media of what OCD is, and while they may be at times accurate, they don’t give the full picture of what OCD can be. The following symptoms may show up in a person with OCD, making day to life more difficult to navigate.
Obsessive Symptoms
The obsession part of OCD involves unwanted thoughts that pop in someone’s head again and again. These thoughts or images create a lot of internal anxiety that can become overwhelming. These thoughts may include:
- Fear of contamination
- Fear of uncertainty
- A need for order and balance
- Negative thoughts about causing – or having caused – harm
- Unwanted sexual thoughts or images
- Fear of losing control
Compulsive Symptoms
When obsessive thoughts pop up, compulsions come in to relieve that stress. These repetitive acts are done with the intention of stopping the thoughts or by seemingly preventing the fear from taking place. While people often understand these rituals aren’t necessary – or even make sense – they’re unable to stop themselves from performing them. These actions may include:
- Excessive cleaning and handwashing to prevent germs
- Doing things repetitively – counting, arranging, etc.
- Checking the same thing repeatedly (locks, the stove, a curling iron)
- Hoarding items
- Constantly asking for reassurance
- Avoiding places, people or situations that trigger obsessive thoughts
- Thinking new thoughts to “neutralize” the obsessive thoughts
Source: National Institute of Mental Health / National Alliance on Mental Illness
What causes OCD?
When it comes to what causes OCD, the answer is a bit vague. There is no exact cause agreed upon, but instead a potential variety of causes. Many researchers agree that activity across portions of the brain is responsible. These areas have trouble responding correctly to serotonin, a neurotransmitter necessary for mood regulation among other things. There are also likely genetic factors at play, with the chance of having OCD 25% higher if you have an immediate family member who has it. There is also some evidence that environmental factors can come into play, such as living through a traumatic event or via learned behavior from others.
How is OCD treated?
OCD can be frustrating and difficult to live with, but thankfully there are treatment options available. Treatment focuses on gaining control of symptoms so life no longer revolves around the obsessive-compulsive cycle. One of the main types of treatment for OCD includes therapy, specifically Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy (ERP). Peak Psychological Services has a great team of experienced therapists that understand the intricacies of OCD and are trained in the specific therapy modalities needed to get better.
CBT with ERP works by gradually exposing patients to thoughts, images or situations that relate to their obsessive thoughts, but without the aid of their compulsive rituals. Through these exposures, patients will learn that the outcome they were fearing doesn’t actually happen, and their rituals had nothing to do with that. Over time, the obsessive thoughts become easier to cope with which helps lessen anxiety and break the hold they have. The idea is to start slow and small, gradually increasing when it feels right.
Medication is another common treatment option for OCD, often used in conjunction with therapy for more severe cases. The most frequently prescribed medicine is an SSRI antidepressant that works to increase serotonin levels in the brain. Medication management is important to keep an eye on side effects efficacy.
Source: American Psychiatric Association / Mayo Clinic
When to seek help for OCD
It’s not abnormal for an impromptu thought to pop into someone’s head out of nowhere. This can happen to all of us now and then, but those times tend to be few and far between and do not require certain compulsive behaviors to make them go away. It’s when those thoughts become persistent or start to rely on specific actions to relieve them that it may be time to consider the possibility of OCD. Some definite signs that it’s time to reach out for help include:
- Lack of control over thoughts and/or behaviors
- Spending an excessive amount of time focused on thoughts
- A need to perform certain rituals to relieve anxiety
- Negative impacts to work, school or personal relationships
Once it becomes apparent that your day to day life is being ruled by a series of unprompted and unwanted thoughts that take over until you’ve completed tasks you deem necessary to relieve them, it’s time to seek out a professional to help you take control.
OCD Therapy in Colorado
OCD can become an all-encompassing disorder, dictating how you move through life. Don’t live your life controlled by thoughts you didn’t ask for when help is available. The team at Peak Psychological Services can help you understand the pattern of your thoughts and work with you to overcome the fear and anxiety that come with them. Reach out today for a free 15-minute phone consultation to see if Peak is right for you!
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