What is OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) – How to Get it Under Control

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is one of the most debilitating forms of anxiety. It plays on one’s thoughts putting meaning to meaningless things.  OCD pushes one to believe that they are in control of their anxiety by engaging in behaviors that relieve one of those anxious feelings; however, in reality the person is not in control - the OCD is.

A common question people who struggle with OCD tend to ask is “when will these thoughts stop popping into my head or will my OCD completely go away?”  The truth is those thoughts will not stop popping into one’s brain and the OCD will not completely go away. The good news is you can learn to control OCD and learn to live a healthy, productive life by treating the OCD with Interpersonal Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

(I-CBT), Exposure Response Prevention (ERP), and some medication.

So what is Interpersonal Cognitive Behavior Therapy and how can it make OCD easier to live with?  I-CBT is a type of therapy where we learn to identify irrational thoughts and change the way we think. Therefore, we change those well learned irrational thoughts to rational thoughts and begin to feel calmer and act better. Once you learn I-CBT then you can begin to learn and implement Exposure Response prevention (ERP) into your life.

ERP is a component of I-CBT. The individual who is being treated for OCD will be exposed to that feared thought or stimulus which triggers the individual to engage in compulsions. The individual will be blocked from engaging in the compulsions, which will bring the person’s anxiety up and then slowly back down.  The repetition of doing this exercise will cause the brain to habituate. When the brain habituates, the need to engage in compulsions goes to sleep. Once the brain habituates it is important to continue to practice the exposures to prevent an OCD relapse.  You could think of this as a bear going into hibernation. This may seem like a lot of work. However, rationally speaking, it is much more productive then spending and wasting so much of the time that OCD takes out of your life.

Also, it is important to note that I-CBT combined with ERP is extremely effective with specific phobias and other related anxiety disorders.  If you or someone that you know could benefit from our treatment at NECBT, please do not hesitate to call us at 860-430-5515.

David Goldwerd, MHC. I-CBT Clinician

www.necbt.com