Jeanne Latiolais, PsyD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
OCD
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is no joking matter.
It has become commonplace to hear people joke that they are "OCD." They usually follow this by itemizing how neatly they keep their sock drawer, or how "yucky" they find raw chicken. I can assure you that those who are truly OCD are very unlikely to joke about it.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a progressive, debilitating illness. Left untreated, it can become completely immobilizing. Those with OCD
spend an hour or more a day on behaviors they feel compelled to do, though they know the behavior is unnecessary. Unable to reassure himself, the OCD
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a progressive, debilitating illness. Left untreated, it can become completely immobilizing. Those with OCD
spend an hour or more a day on behaviors they feel compelled to do, though they know the behavior is unnecessary. Unable to reassure himself, the OCD
sufferer is constantly plagued by thoughts that he cannot get out of his mind. Often, associated problems develop, such as strained relationships or alcohol abuse.
OCD can take the classic forms of obsessive neatness or over concern about germs. However, there are many ways this disorder manifests, including obsessions with order, symmetry, perfection and counting of items, and behaviors such as ritualistic touching, cleaning, organizing, checking, and hoarding.
If this sounds like you, there is help. Psychotropic medication combined with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the treatment protocol that has been found to be the most effective. A particular type of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) which appears to be the most successful for OCD. ERP involves gradually and systematically helping patients confront their obsessive thoughts, refrain from their compulsive behaviors, and learn the essential skill of self-reassurance.