Are you experiencing obsessive thinking patterns (unwanted thoughts, images or urges) that make you feel anxious or distressed? Are you struggling to push away or ignore them? Do you find yourself engaging in repetitive behaviors in order to lower your anxiety or prevent something “bad” from happening?
You may struggle to push away or ignore these unwanted thoughts and find that engaging in the compulsions brings no pleasure and offers only temporary relief from the anxiety you are experiencing.
Common symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder include:
- Intrusive thoughts
- Constant checking
- Constant counting
- The repeated cleaning of one or more items
- Constantly checking the stove or door locks
- Fear of contamination
- Hoarding
- Thoughts that you might be harmed
- Thoughts that you might cause others harm
If one or more of the above symptoms resonates with you, I encourage you to reach out for assistance and support. Research shows that the most effective treatments for OCD are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure Response and Prevention Therapy and/or medication.