OCD-Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

 

OCD is a serious condition that causes great distress, and really impacts people's lives. People become overwhelmed by their thoughts and anxiety and feel like hostages to the rituals that help take away that anxiety. People with OCD experience obsessions, which are specific thoughts that are intense and intrusive. People don't choose to have them and they're often very distressing.

Obsessions make it hard to concentrate or get anything done. A lot of times these thoughts are about germs or safety, but they could be about anything, really. In my case, it was my curling iron. If you asked me, I would tell you I know I unplugged it, I remember doing it. But the thoughts that I didn't were so strong, telling me I left it on. It was so scary, and it made me feel unsafe, like my house might burn down, all because of my curling iron.  

The second symptom of OCD is compulsions. These are ritual behaviors and people with OCD do them to help deal with the anxiety, horror, or distress they feel because of their obsessive thoughts. There are many types of compulsive behaviors. But they often focus on washing or cleaning, checking on things for safety, or repeating words or numbers. In my case, I had to check on that curling iron. I came back to my house, went upstairs, saw it was unplugged, left again for work, and then I would repeat it, all over again. It was really tough for me to get to work on any given day. I knew I didn't need to do this at all, but it felt totally out of control.

There's good news, OCD is treatable. Several types of treatment are effective, and people with OCD can overcome their obsessive thoughts, and ritual behaviors that have controlled their lives. Cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT is the most effective treatment. In CBT, people work hard to challenge their thoughts, and change the behaviors that follow. There is a specific type of CBT, that is used just for those us with OCD. It's called exposure and response prevention or ERP. And it works to help us delay or resist ritual compulsions, and cope with the resulting anxiety in a different manner. Over time, the anxiety becomes less destructive and can even disappear. In addition, many people find relief from a specific medication that helps with getting those obsessive thoughts under control.

Several SSRIs are used with OCD, and they really make a difference for a lot of people. A combination of ERP and medication is often the best choice for many people. It was for me, the medication took the edge off my anxiety, and my thoughts about the curling iron got a lot less distressing. In therapy, I learned how to postpone going back to check on it. It was so hard at first, but my therapist guided me in doing this, and I learned to get through the anxiety. Eventually I proved to myself, I could do it.

Obsessive compulsive disorder really changes people's lives, often causing them to feel like the disturbing thoughts and rituals have power over them. But with evidence-based treatment, it doesn't have to be that way. People can learn to challenge their thoughts and manage their behavior. They can take control of their lives again.

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