Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by persistent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) aimed at reducing the anxiety caused by these thoughts. People with OCD can feel trapped in a cycle where obsessive thoughts lead to compulsive behaviors, which provide temporary relief but ultimately reinforce the obsessions - perpetuating the vicious cycle..
OCD is more than just being overly tidy or having particular habits. It's a disorder that can significantly impact a person's daily life, relationships, and overall well-being. People with OCD experience obsessions that cause distress, and they engage in compulsions as a way to alleviate this distress or prevent feared outcomes.
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CBT for OCD involves:
Cognitive Restructuring
This includes identifying and challenging the unhelpful thoughts that fuel obsessive thinking. We work to identify specific thoughts that fuel the OCD cycle, identify patterns of thinking that may be at play. We also work to drill beneath the surface and identify core beliefs that fuel the individual thoughts and patterns themselves.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
Because the obsessive thoughts are so distressing, it is natural to look for the relief that is given by the compulsions. However, unfortunately this relief is temporary, and engaging in the cycle of compulsive behaviours worsens distress and anxiety over time. We work to gently, gradually counteract the urges to engage in these compulsions through exposure work that is planned, controlled, and carried out in an empowering way.
Mindfulness and Acceptance-Based Strategies
At CBT Solutions, we can also incorporate elements of Mindfulness, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) into your OCD treatment. These strategies help to acknowledge that obsessive thoughts may arise but that you don’t need to act on them, focusing on cultivating a different relationship with your own thoughts, emotions, and body.
With ACT, you don’t have to delay living the life you want to live until your OCD gets better. ACT provides the compass that allows you to start taking steps toward being the person you want to be right away.
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