Obsessive-compulsive disorder, or more popularly known as OCD, is an anxiety disorder that generally causes extreme discomfort through persistent and recurrent impulses.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, obsessive-compulsive disorder affects more than 2 million adults within the United States alone. This illness can cause an extreme amount of distress and can dramatically affect and interfere with your daily life.
People who suffer from any variant of OCD tend to have obsessions with certain ideas, images and thoughts that will distract them for hours on end.
The compulsive portion of OCD is how sufferers cope with their disorder.
The five subtypes of OCD are:
Obsessions are unwanted feelings toward an idea or activity. You may have aggressive impulses, persistent sexual thoughts, unwanted ideas of harming others or causing self-harm. If so, you should see an OCD therapist because they are signs of the disorder.
Signs of compulsion include constant checking or counting, repeatedly washing or cleaning the same items and constantly arranging items a certain way to fulfill your needs.
When these two aspects combine, you most likely have an obsessive-compulsive disorder.
It is quite hard to pinpoint the diagnostics for OCD because the symptoms are similar to those of other mental health disorders. For example, you may have anxiety, depression or schizophrenia.
In fact, it is quite common for someone to have both OCD and another mental disorder. Finding a therapist or professional who specializes explicitly in the appropriate diagnosis and treatment of OCD can help overcome this issue.
An OCD therapist is a trained professional who works with patients with short-term and long-term OCD. OCD is a complex disorder, and not all doctors and counselors are best suited to understand and treat the problem.
Be sure to find a therapist who has professional expertise or certificates to manage OCD. Ask if they have completed a certification program approved by the American Psychological Association.
These therapists are the most qualified and provide training or techniques that specifically treat OCD.
There are many forms of treatments for OCD, stemming from medication to psychological behavioral approaches.
Psychotherapy is another form of OCD treatment where the individual is gradually exposed to a feared object or obsession. This helps you learn healthy ways and techniques to cope with the anxiety or emotions involved. It may sound strange now, but it is an excellent first step to managing your obsession or compulsions.
Therapy may often take place in family or group settings, so you do not have to do this alone. A professional may be able to provide you with multiple treatments and aids in helping you conquer your OCD.
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, consider seeing an OCD therapist. Their guidance can help you overcome this disorder once and for all.
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