Archive for category Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy For OCD

Posted by in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder on August 24, 2009

OCD is a common problem that can be overcome with CBT, either by using a CBT based self-help book or via more intensive therapist support.

OCD is characterized by obsessions and compulsions. An obsession is a persistent thought, image or urge that comes into your mind and sets off feelings of anxiety and distress. These obsessions occur frequently, are intrusive and not easy to get rid of. For example, common obsessions in OCD include, thoughts or images of violence, blasphemous thoughts, fear of contamination, sexual thoughts or images and excessive concern with health. In OCD a compulsion is an act or ritual that is repeated and repeated in reaction to an obsessive thought. A compulsion may be an behavioural act such as repeatedly checking the door is locked or a mental act such as saying something or picturing something to make the distressing feeling, associated with the obsessive thought feel better.

Usually when I treat people for OCD at my CBT therapy practice in Hertfordshire, I find that the method that the person with OCD uses to cope with or solve their OCD, is the very factor keeping their OCD going. This is because people with OCD commonly give a special meaning or powerfulness to their obsessive thoughts, usually that having the thought will lead to something bad happening to themselves or others. As a consequence, the person will usually mistakenly believe that the way to solve the obsessive thought is to try to block it or carry out a compulsion to “undo” the thought. What we know is that our brains work in such a way that trying to block a thought will only make it more frequent and whilst carrying out a compulsion will make the person feel better initially, it will actually feed the OCD so that the problem keeps going.

This can be likened to having “just one puff” to get rid of a craving for nicotine when trying to give up smoking. Whilst for a short period the craving is dealt with (distressing feeling in OCD), it actually leads to stronger and increased cravings.

When working with clients at my CBT therapy practice, Herts who have OCD a lot of time is spent identifying the persons OCD maintaining factors. Typical factors that keep OCD going include: giving thoughts more meaning then they deserve, misunderstanding about why you have the particular obsessions you have, avoidance and safety seeking behaviour (avoiding anxiety triggered by the thought by blocking or undoing the thought with a compulsion, avoiding situations that you associate with the obsessive thought, asking others for reassurance), giving too much time and attention to your obsessions, trying to control your thoughts and thinking biases.

CBT therapy, Herts, works by helping the person unravel the factors that maintain their OCD in order to build a different solution to overcome it. Treatment will then involve exposure and without responding, with the support of your therapist. This basically involves accepting your obsessive thoughts in such a way that you learn to tolerate the anxiety which accompanies them without carrying out any compulsions. Eventually the anxiety naturally fades so that you will be able to experience the thought without finding it distressing. This is called habituation.

Karen Hastings is a NHS experienced mental health occupational therapist, Master NLP practitioner and hypnotherapist. Karen uses hypnotherapy in Hertfordshire, along with cognitive therapy approaches. For more information about Hypnotherapy, Herts visit http://www.karenhastings.co.uk

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Anxiety Disorder, anxiety disorder symptoms, Anxiety Disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, OCD

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OCD Forum-Do I Have OCD? How You Got OCD in the First Place and What to Do About It

Posted by in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder on August 24, 2009

You may have OCD and not even realize it!

I suffered from obsessive thoughts long before I realized that I was. I rationalized everything. We think of our thoughts as logical and normal, then after a while something happens and we realize that something is not quite right. We realize that maybe we may have a problem.

Are you constantly worrying about something that you used to not worry about?

Do you do things that don’t seem quite normal to you? Such as touching things repeatedly, saying mantras to yourself, or washing your hands constantly?

Do you do normal things that make sense but a little too much, such as: checking on your baby more than usual or more than what is necessary for good care?

Right here, OCD gets tricky because we justify what we are doing by saying to ourselves, “well, I want my baby to be safe, I am just being a cautious mother.” We soon realize that after a while, we are obsessively checking our our child and there comes a point that deep inside we know that it’s a bit strange.

Here’s how you can know:

If you feel a great sense of impending doom or a great sense that something bad is going to happen if you don’t do something, you probably have OCD.

So now that you know that you have OCD, how did you get it?

OCD is a coping mechanism, a way for your brain to deal with a situation and/or control a situation. It is a lack of trust that what you did was sufficient.

OCD develops over time and it usually feels like it ’snuck up on you.’

Now that we know that OCD started by doing rational things, or things that seemed rational to you, then progressed into doing those rational things too many times, we can do something about it!

Take action: Now that you know how you got OCD and how to realize it, your next logical question will be, ‘well what can I do about it?’

Here’s what you do: The first step is to realize when you are doing an action too many times by using the information above. The next thing is to stop doing it so much!

When you feel the anxiety of not doing the action, know that you will not die, know that you will not harm anyone else. Think about something else. The key to not suffering from OCD anymore is to simply not think about it. I certainly could not cover everything that is required to become OCD free like I have, in this article, but this should get you started off in the right direction!

For more instantly usable free information click: Become OCD Free

Derek Soto is an ex-sufferer of OCD who teaches people how to overcome their OCD for good in a very short time using little known techniques which are usually ignored by the medical field altogether.

Derek Soto also mentors people on a wide range of subjects including how to control your thinking naturally, how to defeat anxiety, phobias and how to change your thought processes so that you will be happier and live a more fulfilling life, period.

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Anxiety Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, OCD

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The Inside Scoop on OCD

Posted by in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder on August 24, 2009

Have you ever heard someone say, “Oh, I am just being OCD about that,”? Well, that might not be completely inaccurate. OCD is a fast growing disorder that doesn’t discriminate. No matter your race, age, or gender. Now there are studies that show OCD symptoms are prevalent in certain groups more than others, but for the most part OCD can manifest in anyone at anytime.

It seems that OCD symptoms begin manifesting or get stronger after a tragic or highly stressful event. In my case it was the death of my mother. For others it may be a job, loss of a job, schoolwork, or any other events in a person’s life that they consider highly stressful. This disorder is sort of an enigma. It can take on many characteristics.

You may experience the desire to avoid cracks on sidewalks; you may count everything or do something a certain number of times. You may wash your hands repeatedly or have to wear gloves while doing everyday tasks. You may have to repeat things as in a mantra. The list goes on and on.

OCD is aggressive in nature. It will envelope a person’s life to the point were functioning is even a problem. This disorder can also have co-morbidity with other things like depression and anxiety. The cycle is quite vicious. You feel that you are going crazy because of your thoughts or actions. So as a result you look down on yourself, you feel ashamed or embarrassed. Because of the persistence of the thoughts that accompany obsessive thoughts, people tend to develop compulsions to stop or alleviate those unwanted thoughts.

People will develop just about any tactic to resolve some of the conflict in their mind. This could be any kind of ritualistic act like saying things a certain number of times or touching the same object every day. It is important to note what exactly is going on in the brain of someone with OCD. It is not a disorder like Schizophrenia where a person is delusional. It is quite the opposite in fact. Most people who have OCD and the thoughts and compulsions that result from it, realize that what they are doing and thinking is not in the realm of normalcy. It is like a dual mind. On one hand you have the overwhelming urge to think of something or to do a ritualistic act. On the other hand you are aware of the fact that these thoughts, and consequently the actions performed to alleviate the thoughts, really are irrational. This is where the depression and anxiety come into play. You know that what you’re doing is stupid but you can’t stop. This makes you feel defeated and, to be quite honest makes you feel crazy.

Finally OCD affects more than just those diagnosed. Family, friends and other around do not understand the quirkiness if you will of OCD. So they are left to bear the outcomes of OCD behavior.

There is hope however. Luckily OCD is very treatable. It can be managed relatively easily. A mixture of proper medicines and counseling can alleviate symptoms. It is important to note that it will not destroy symptoms. It will merely help in controlling unwanted acts and thoughts associated with OCD. If you think that you might have OCD or you know anyone with symptoms, seek help. Do not diagnose and or try to treat without the proper guidance of a therapist. Here is a site that can help. http://www.ocfoundation.org/quick_search_groups.html

Hi, my name is Eric Richardville. I am a psychology student, an avid reader and an aspiring author. It is my passion to bring hope to those who need it. My goal through my writings is to bring insight, laughter and to bring to light important issues that our world is faced with. My blog is http://www.soupalaxy.wordpress.com

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Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, OCD, Symptoms

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