You may notice that certain patterns of thought and behavior make you feel trapped.
You may find yourself spiraling in a recurrent loop of distressing thoughts and time-consuming behavior.
OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER (OCD)
Is it anxiety or OCD?
Sometimes it’s difficult to tell – particularly with internal compulsions – which are mental acts that drive you to perform in response to obsessive thoughts. Unlike more visible external compulsions, such as handwashing, cleaning, or checking, internal compulsions can be difficult to discern. Recognizing these patterns is the first step toward exiting the loop and regaining control of your life.
What ocd Looks Like
Common ocd symptoms
- Obsessions: Persistent, intrusive thoughts or impulses that provoke distress. Common obsessions include fears of contamination, making mistakes, or harming others inadvertently.
- Compulsions and Rituals: Repeated behaviors such as washing, checking, or arranging items in a specific order to alleviate the distress caused by obsessions.
- Intrusive Thoughts: Unwanted and distressing images or ideas that are tough to manage.
- Anxiety and Stress: Intense feelings of unease that drive one to perform ritualistic behaviors for temporary relief.
- Avoidance: Deliberately steering clear of places, situations, or objects that activate obsessive thoughts.
- Need for Reassurance: Frequently seeking information or confirmation from others to mitigate fears linked to obsessive thoughts, such as health anxiety—worrying excessively about having or acquiring a serious illness.
- Mental Rituals: Engaging in internal tasks like counting or silently repeating words to control or reduce anxiety.
Examples of Internal Compulsions:
- Reviewing past events: Mentally going over past conversations, actions, or events to check for errors, moral violations, or potential harm.
- Mentally checking memories: Constantly reanalyzing memories to ensure accuracy or determine if something was done "correctly."
- Overplanning: Mentally preparing for every possible scenario to prevent mistakes or negative outcomes.
- Reassessing future events: Mentally revisiting and reanalyzing future plans or events to make sure they are perfect and harm-free.
- Contingency planning: Constantly making mental "backup" plans for potential problems, often far beyond what is necessary or likely.
- Reviewing relationships: Mentally reassessing social interactions and relationships to ensure one hasn’t offended or hurt someone.
From the Ground Up
At Stokewell Counseling, we believe in addressing OCD from the ground up—starting with the fundamental ways in which your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are interconnected. This means constructing a strong, resilient foundation by understanding and reshaping the basic patterns that feed your OCD, setting the stage for lasting change. We approach OCD with therapy models that address both the mental and behavioral aspects of the disorder. Our focus extends beyond simply managing symptoms—we aim to transform your relationship with your thoughts and behaviors using techniques from ERP, I-CBT, and ACT.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
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Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT)
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
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This leading therapy for OCD involves gradually facing the thoughts, images, objects, and situations that make you anxious. Over time, ERP can help reduce the compulsive behaviors that follow your obsessive thoughts.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
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Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT)
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
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I-CBT helps you reconnect with your real self by addressing the over-reliance on imagination that fuels OCD. Through filtering out unrealistic thoughts and grounding yourself in your senses and reality, you’ll learn to trust what is reasonable and true. This process reduces the grip of compulsions, allowing you to live with greater clarity and confidence.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
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Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT)
+
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
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ACT helps you develop mindfulness skills to accept your thoughts and feelings rather than fighting them, committing to actions that align with your values and enhance your life.
Navigating OCD is more than suppressing symptoms; it's about learning to lead a fulfilling life despite them. You don't have to manage this alone. Together we’ll work towards fostering awareness and creating a sense of autonomy that allows you to live on your own terms, even thrive. Reach out today to schedule a consultation at Stokewell Counseling.
Taking the Next Step...
