Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is an anxiety-based disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder significantly impacts the lives of those who suffer from it. Individuals with OCD attempt to avoid distressing thoughts or situations and, in the process, develop certain rituals or habits to reduce or neutralize anxiety/distress.
If you are struggling with OCD, reach out and contact us today. At New Heights, we offer state of the art treatment for all OCD Types. Call us now to talk about how we can help you!
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What is OCD
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is made up of two parts: obsessions and compulsions.
Obsessions are unwanted intrusive images, thoughts or impulses which are accompanied by feelings of anxiety, disgust or discomfort. The list of OCD obsessions is extensive and individuals are usually plagued by more than one obsession. Some of the most common obsessions relate to themes of aggression, contamination, sex, religion, harm/danger, superstition and perfectionism. There are two types of obsessions: autonomous and reactive.
Compulsions are the behaviors, rituals or mental acts that are done to neutralize or reduce the anxiety. Compulsions can occur mentally and in the form of a behavior or ritual.
Autonomous and reactive obsessions
Autogenous Obsessions are experienced involuntarily. They are often guilt-provoking thoughts that don’t have an identifiable trigger (e.g., spontaneous unacceptable sexual thoughts).
Reactive Obsessions are triggered by external events and tend to be related to concerns such as contamination, accidents, harm and a need for perfection.
Compulsions are the behaviors, rituals or mental acts that are done to neutralize or reduce the anxiety.
Compulsions can occur mentally and in the form of a behavior or ritual.
Behavioral/ Physical Compulsions Examples Include:
- Repeatedly washing hands, or showering, or using excessive hand-sanitizer or antibacterial cleaning products; wearing gloves.
- Tapping, Counting.
- Repeating actions until they feel ‘just right’ (e.g. moving in and out of a doorway, re-reading text, repeating a certain movement.)
- Avoiding people, places or situations to avoid triggering unwanted thoughts, feelings, sensations or urges.
- Avoiding contact with anything that can be construed as ‘contaminated’ such as doorknobs, toilets, money or any other frequently encountered objects.
- Seeking reassurance: researching the internet, asking people for reassurance.
- Repeatedly checking locks, stoves, light switches, windows, electrical outlets, your car for evidence of a hit & run incident etc.
- Unnecessarily arranging or straightening furniture, closets, bookshelves, window blinds, rugs, dishes, cans shoes and so on.
- Saying prayers repeatedly to neutralize a perceived unacceptable or immoral action or sin.
- Continually seeking reassurance from others that offences have not been committed or confessing.
Mental Compulsions:
Mental operations which are done to alleviate discomfort or ward off a threat. While some are easily recognizable, some mental compulsions are not easy to spot, and you may not even realize they are happening. The two main types of mental compulsions are suppressing and engaging.
Suppressing Examples Include:
- Thought Suppression: trying to push a thought away.
- Thought Swapping or Replacement: replacing a negative thought or image with a positive thought or image or simply ‘changing the channel.
- Ritualistic counting, singing a song, reciting your ABC’s, reciting a mantra or engaging in any other mental process, as a means of distraction.
- Any form of mental distraction.
Engaging Examples Include:
- Analyzing/Rationalizing: trying to explain the compulsions away
- Mental Checking and Reviewing (e.g. did I lock the door? Would I, or do I want to engage in that behavior? Was I aroused by that? Do I still have the thoughts? What do the thoughts mean about me?)
- Reassurance: trying to reassure yourself.
- Mental Preparation: mentally preparing how you’re going to deal with something/avoid something/ prepare for a later compulsion.
At New Heights, we offer state of the art treatment for all OCD Types. Call us now to talk about how we can help you!
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The Obsessive-Compulsive Cycle
New Heights operates under Vancouver OCD & Anxiety Treatment Centre Inc. and is a Vancouver-based clinic specializing in evidence-based treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder and anxiety disorders.
Individuals who struggle with OCD are caught in a vicious cycle. Compulsions, while temporarily reducing distress/anxiety, paradoxically, serve to reinforce and strengthen OCD symptoms over time. This cycle is represented below:
Exposure & Ritual Prevention (ERP)
The aim of ERP is to provide you with new knowledge that (a) obsessional fears are much less probable or severe than predicted (b) anxiety and obsessional thoughts themselves are safe and tolerable, and (c) compulsive rituals are not necessary for your safety or to tolerate anxiety. In simple terms, ERP encourages face your obsessional fears while you resist the urge to engage in compulsions to relieve your anxiety.
Understandably, the thought of doing ERP may sound very frightening for an individual suffering with OCD. However, ERP is best administered with the support of an OCD Therapist who can prepare and guide you as you start your exposure work. The benefits of doing ERP are that the thoughts, feelings and physical sensations can become more tolerable over time.
