OCD is a disorder that is defined by obsessions and/or compulsions. When people think of OCD, they often think of a person who is a clean-freak or one who keeps things very organized. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard the phrase, “I’m a little OCD” but there is NOTHING little about OCD. This disorder is absolutely life altering in a way that someone who doesn’t suffer from it, could never understand.
There is a much larger umbrella of OCD nowadays than there used to be and that is due to increased research on this disorder. The main components to diagnose an individual are “Do you experience intrusive thoughts?” to which most people would answer yes…but the follow-up question is the most important part. “When you have an intrusive thought, do you ruminate on all of the possibilities for two hours or more?” That is when an intrusive thought becomes life altering.
A person with OCD will obsess over one thought for hours each day and that is where rituals come into play. Each individual will develop their own set of rituals to soothe the anxiety caused by that obsessive thought. Before the diagnosis exists, many will not realize the connection between their rituals and their anxiety. Some examples of OCD rituals may be; repeating a phrase over and over to counteract a negative thought, compulsive hand washing, checking locks 3x before leaving the house, doing things in a particular order to feel safe, arranging objects in a particular way, counting.
People who have OCD have most likely had it their entire lives and once the diagnosis exists, you’ll quickly be able to look back through your history and begin to connect the dots. But how does someone learn to manage their OCD and live their best life? Treatment options for OCD include medications such as SSRIs, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) specifically ERP (Exposure Response Prevention) and also hypnotherapy.
One of the ways I learned to manage an OCD flare up in my life is through the use of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy. This form of therapy works on reprocessing traumatic events which is what most OCD flare-ups consist of…which is a traumatic memory that has not been properly processed by the brain.
There is no cure for OCD but there is a way to manage your symptoms so that you can live a fulfilling life. If you believe that you might have OCD, please seek out a medical professional for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.
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