OCD Counseling

Individuals that face the symptoms of OCD daily can find relief through a combination of psychotherapy, medication and self-help strategies.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Symptoms may change over time and often worsens during periods of high stress and/or anxiety.
Ilene S. Cohen, Ph.D
By Ilene S. Cohen, Ph.D. | Updated July 7, 2023

What is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a chronic disorder where a person has uncontrollable, reoccurring thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions) that they feel the urge to repeat over and over again. Engaging in these repetitive acts and thoughts is a way to reduce and manage a person’s anxiety. Many people with OCD are fully aware that their thoughts and behaviors aren’t rational; however, they are still incapable of resisting their compulsions. Once the brain is trained to engage in a particular thought pattern or urge, it can feel too difficult not to give in to the thoughts and habitual behaviors.  

It’s common for someone with OCD to experience intense emotions that result in them performing ritualistic behaviors; these behaviors will provide short-term relief from the stressor. For example, anxiety can increase when things aren’t done flawlessly, leading to a desire to clean compulsively. When OCD is in its most severe form, it can prevent an individual from partaking in their daily responsibilities, which are essential for a healthy quality of life.

Studies show that 1 in 50 men and women have OCD in the United States alone. In many cases, other mental health issues accompany OCD, such as suffering from other anxiety disorders, having an eating disorder, or possibly living with depression. It’s common for people with OCD to avoid certain situations and places that may contribute to social isolation. Additionally, living with OCD can lead to substance abuse to manage and deal with the urges and demands of OCD. Addiction is a form of escape from the emotional anguish they may feel.

Symptoms of OCD

Understanding Obsessions & Compulsions

Individuals with OCD usually experience both obsessions and compulsions that can present a long list of challenges. However, some people may experience only obsessions or only compulsions. The severity of symptoms may change over time but often worsens during excessive periods of high stress and anxiety. Below the difference between obsessions and compulsions is explained. Obsessions are repeated thoughts, urges, or mental images that create anxiety. Common symptoms include:

  • Fear of germs or contamination
  • Unwanted or taboo thoughts involving sex, religion, and harm
  • Aggressive thoughts towards others or self
  • Having things symmetrical or in a perfect order

Compulsions are repetitive behaviors that a person with OCD urges to do in response to an obsessive thought. Common compulsions include:

  • Excessive cleaning or hand washing
  • Ordering and arranging things in a particular, precise way
  • Repeatedly checking on things, like repeatedly checking to see if the door is locked or that the oven is off
  • Compulsive counting

Many People with OCD can relate to one of the following behavior categories:

Hand Washing: Having a great deal of fear about germs or dirt can lead to an obsession with keeping parts of the body clean. This behavior may become so severe that a person with OCD washes their hands a dozen times daily, creating skin irritation or bleeding.

Counting and Fixing: Wanting to place items in a particular order, which may include arranging certain things by numbers or colors, is common in people with OCD. If any details are out of place, it can create a lot of emotional distress and worry. Failing to have these things in the correct numerical order or proper placement isn’t just unacceptable, but it can create anxiety so intense that it results in panic attacks. The amount of time it takes to organize these things correctly doesn’t matter for an individual who suffers from OCD because their behaviors are not part of a rational thought process. 

Having Doubts or Negative Thoughts: In many cases, a person with OCD will have recurring thoughts about violence. These can include various forms of violence ranging from minor harmful ideas to more significant and disturbing ones. Most of these urges and ideas may be prohibited by religious beliefs, and engaging in this activity may lead to an excessive compulsion to pray. This behavior can lead to a great deal of inner conflict, making it more likely to feel emotional turmoil. 

Re-checking: For a person with OCD, there is an ongoing need to check and re-check frequently, things like locking doors, turning off the stove, or closing the garage, resulting in being late for work, missing appointments, and disrupting daily routines. Most individuals experiencing severe bouts of OCD may leave home and turn around to go back and check again repeatedly. 

Hoarding items: People with OCD often have an intense fear of losing items they believe may be necessary to have, creating the need to hoard things. Engaging in this activity can generate a lot of concern from other family members while also taking up too much living space in the home. Hoarding can make it impossible to have a clean house to live in and can contribute to the spread of germs and illnesses. In severe cases, hoarding may become so excessive that it can be challenging to walk through the home easily. 

Repetitive behaviors: For many people with OCD, it’s common to be repetitive in many daily activities. Engaging in repetitive activity is a very unproductive way to get through any day. Doing the same thing over and over to ensure that it’s right can take tremendous effort and consume a lot of time in the process. 

Remember that the more severe OCD is, the worse the obsessions and compulsions may be. This can vary significantly from person to person; however, getting the proper treatment can offer the necessary help.

What are the Treatment Options for OCD?

Self-care can significantly reduce the symptoms of OCD and can allow for a better quality of life. Many valuable treatments and complementary self-help strategies help deal with OCD. Working with a licensed professional is the key to finding the treatment modality that meets the needs of any individual with OCD.

Choosing the right therapist to get optimal results in the short and long term is essential. This means only relying on therapists with the expertise and previous training to accurately diagnose and treat OCD with either medication, psychotherapy, or in many cases, a combination of both. Some of the treatment options for OCD include:

Medication

One way to treat OCD is with prescription drugs. After your initial session, you may receive a prescription for medication that can help reduce OCD symptoms. Taking time to find a convenient and affordable pharmacy to fill the medication is always essential and one thing you will want to do beforehand. However, receiving an individualized treatment plan is crucial while seeing an OCD specialist.

Having a thorough evaluation of the severity of your OCD and its impact on your day-to-day activities is an important component of finding the proper medication and the correct dosage. Keep in mind; it may take some time for any medicine to begin to work and to get the full benefits of taking it. In some cases, it can take up to six or eight weeks for people to feel the full effects of medication, so patience is integral to finding the right prescription for you. 

Psychotherapy

In addition to medication, many healthcare providers recommend psychotherapy to minimize the impact of OCD on your daily life. Knowing some of the various forms of psychotherapy may be helpful when looking for OCD treatment:

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): This treatment method can benefit people suffering from OCD. In CBT, you will work on identifying obsessive thoughts that may lead to having increased feelings of anxiety, and you will work on replacing this mode of thinking with a more realistic one. Working closely with a therapist to obtain the desired results during this process is important.

Exposure Therapy (ET): Allowing individuals to confront their fears in an environment that is both safe and controlled can be helpful when it comes to reducing the impact of OCD.  This therapy may encourage individuals to become more desensitized to specific situations that commonly trigger their anxiety.

Studies show that a combination of medication, CBT, and ET are the best remedies for OCD. A combination treatment is often the recommendation of OCD specialists because of the fast and efficient results obtained.

Getting better requires the right amount of effort, discipline, and time. This is all possible with professional guidance and motivation. Working closely with a therapist can be the key to helping you have a better quality of life.

Self-Help Strategies

Numerous self-help strategies can be used in dealing with OCD’s various challenges, and these activities are easy to do on your own outside of therapy sessions:

Deep Breathing: Taking control of the day can often begin by becoming more attuned with your mind and body. A great way to accomplish this is by taking deep breaths and focusing on your breathing throughout the day. Mindfulness helps with remaining focused and keeping you from getting off track by your obsessive thoughts. Learning meditation can be a great way to handle OCD better. Deep breathing is easy to learn, allowing you to practice techniques at your own pace.

Keeping a Journal: Maintaining a record of what’s happening daily is an ideal way to feel more attuned to your mind and body. This will only take a few minutes to accomplish and may be extremely helpful in reducing many of the common obsessions for people with OCD. To be successful with this self-help strategy, you must be consistent in your efforts. Doing this can provide a thorough record of what’s going on each day and may be extremely helpful in living with OCD. In addition to its practical purposes, journaling is an enjoyable activity that many people find useful in reducing the stress and anxiety accompanying OCD. 

Sleeping Well: Getting into the habit of sleeping enough each night can be beneficial for coping with OCD. Being well-rested can contribute to a calmer mind, which is helpful for anyone with OCD. It’s possible to experience more OCD symptoms if you are tired or have a diminished capacity to concentrate on tasks at hand each day. In some cases, your doctor may recommend sleep medication to allow you to get the rest your body needs to feel as well as possible.

Joining a Support Group: Communicating with others that struggle with the challenges of OCD can be a great way to manage this condition. Having a group that is accessible and willing to provide the necessary support can be extremely helpful for any individual with OCD. Learning effective daily coping strategies with the help of other people with OCD is an excellent way to feel supported on your journey to living a whole and healthy life. Having a group that is accessible and willing to provide the necessary support can be extremely helpful for any individual with OCD – visit OCDTribe.

Finding OCD Counseling

If you or someone that you know is suffering from OCD, it’s possible to get the help you need to live a more productive life. Search the TherapyTribe directory for an OCD specialist with the expertise, training, and knowledge to help you overcome your challenges. 

Taking the necessary time to learn more about treatment options for OCD is well worth the effort so that you can benefit from the available help. Finding a therapist to provide the assistance you need effectively reduces obsessions, compulsions, and anxiety common with OCD.

Another beneficial treatment option involves working with an online therapist. Online therapy is a convenient way to access the professional guidance you need. Living a healthy life with OCD is possible with the help of the right therapist who will offer suggestions and recommendations that enable you to live a positive and productive life, free from the burden of struggling with OCD on your own.

Post-Pandemic Update

OCD expresses itself differently for many, specifically during increased stress and trauma, like the Covid-19 pandemic. People with OCD experienced more of their OCD symptoms during the COVID-19 spread, including: 1) Fearing for their health. 2) Obsessively checking their body for coronavirus symptoms. 3) Becoming preoccupied with hand washing and having obsessive worries about infection.

Others focused their obsessions on cleanliness and washing or the need to be constantly updated about the outbreak, like reading articles or watching the news obsessively. Research shows that when the virus was at its highest peak – many people experienced more symptoms of anxiety disorders, with OCD providing many daily disruptions such as: 1) Life disruption. Repeating compulsions and avoiding people that could have Covid-19. 2) Impacting relationships. OCD can affect the family, friends, and partners of those suffering from it. They may feel they have to hide their symptoms from the people closest to them, which often results in a more profound healthcare crisis. 3) Feelings of shame. The symptoms of OCD can harm people’s mental health to the point that they experience pervasive feelings of loneliness and isolation. You should seek family, friends, and mental health professionals’ support if you are experiencing deep loneliness. All this can help relieve the stress and burden that often gets experienced.

References

  • National Institute of Mental Health (2016, January). Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Retrieved March 30, 2019 from: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/index.shtml
  • American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders(5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
  • Mayo Clinic (2016, September) Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Retrieved March 30, 2019 from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20354432
  • Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) & Beyoond OCD (2016, April). Understand the Facts Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Retrieved March 30, 2019 from: https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd
  • The dramatic rise of OCD in a post-pandemic world (May 25, 2021) Retrieved from: https://www.caminorecovery.com/blog/the-flip-side-of-covid-19-the-dramatic-rise-of-ocd-in-a-post-pandemic-world/