OCD and Other Anxiety Disorders
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
OCD is a debilitating psychiatric condition in which sufferers experience intrusive thoughts (i.e. Obsessions, or the "O" in OCD) and feel driven to complete compulsions (the "C" in OCD) in order to relieve anxiety. While OCD can latch on to just about anything, the OCD cycle is the same. The relief followed by the compulsive behavior is very temporary, and the intensity of the distress returns more quickly and more intensely as the cycle continues.
In this way, OCD traps sufferers in a vicious cycle similar to Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), eating disorders, and various other anxiety disorders. The compulsive behavior driving the OCD cycle can significantly impair the one’s quality of life, often occupying at least an hour or more per day.
Common Types of OCD Behaviors
Checking
The anxiety caused by OCD can create the need to compulsively check objects, do research about the anxiety-provoking topic, seek reassurance from others, and more. Common checking obsessions may revolve around locking doors, turning off appliances, or the obsessive checking of personal items before leaving the house (phone, wallet, keys). Other examples include calorie counting, ingredient checking, mirror checking or taking photos for reassurance on their appearance.
Avoidance
OCD sufferers may avoid people, places, or even daily tasks that create a sense of anxiety. If the thought of doing an activity causes distress, it is likely that the activity will be avoided. For example, someone fearful of failing may delay or avoid working on college applications, potentially missing important deadlines. Certain places, people, foods, colors and objects may be deemed unsafe to the sufferer and, therefore, are avoided.
Repetition
Some people struggling with OCD may find short-term relief from anxiety by engaging in repetitive tasks. Repetitive tasks may include saying or doing things a certain amount of times or in a certain way, tapping, touching or counting things a certain number of times in the “right” and “safe” number, going from indoors to outdoors, getting up or down from chairs, and more.
Intrusive Thoughts & Rumination
Intrusive thoughts are unwanted and repetitive thoughts, images or urges that cause distress. They may even be violent or inappropriate in nature, but do not at all reflect upon the character or morality of the individual. A rumination may be the lingering of such thoughts, or the lingering of any thought, for an uncomfortable amount of time. Sufferers may replay past interactions in their mind and weigh the different outcomes that may have unfolded if they had acted differently.
For more information, explore these pages on Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Exposure and Response Prevention, as well as our Groups/Classes offerings.