Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) produces intrusive thoughts or images that cause significant distress. The person then engages in behaviors or thoughts to reduce the anxiety, called compulsions. Most teens and adults recognize that their obsessions do not make sense, but feel compelled to do their compulsions anyway in order to feel less anxious or uncomfortable.
OCD presents itself in a variety of forms; some of the more common forms are:
- fears of contamination with compulsive washing or cleaning
- distress about disorder or lack of symmetry with arranging and ordering compulsions
- fear of harming others or oneself with compulsive checking and reassurance seeking
- perfectionism and “just so” rituals
- intrusive sexual, blasphemous or horrific thoughts with avoidance and excessive reassurance seeking prayers, confession compulsions, or ritualistic religious behaviors
- magic numbers, colors or sequences of movement with superstitious avoidance
Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP)