What is OCD Anxiety Treatment?

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, otherwise known as OCD, is a type of stress disorder characterized by persistent, obsessive thoughts and images, which create anxiety that is alleviated by performing compulsive behaviors, like organizing pens perfectly by color, checking a doorknob a certain number of times, or other repetitive actions. OCD symptoms can range from mild to debilitating, and for many people, the obsessive thought become more controlling as time goes on.

Luckily, there is help available! OCD can be treated through depression and anxiety counseling like cognitive behavioral therapy (cbt), which aims to break down obsessive thought patterns, and replace them with healthy thoughts and behaviors. Other treatments for OCD include exposure and response prevention (ERP therapy), and counseling for depression and anxiety that may be exacerbating your symptoms.

By working with a licensed St Louis psychologist and developing a reliable treatment plan, you can reduce or even eliminate your unwanted thoughts, relieve your anxiety, and get back to living a fuller, happier life.

Do You Have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?

Many people experience fleeting moments of obsessions, or have “pet peeves” that bother them. These are markedly different from true OCD, because these people can ignore their annoyances in a way that someone suffering from OCD cannot. If you’re trying to determine if you have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, start by asking yourself the following questions:

  • Do you experience obsessions, which are:

    • Recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses, or images that are experienced as intrusive and inappropriate and cause a great deal of distress.

    • The thoughts are not simply excessive worries about real-life problems

    • The thoughts are extremely difficult to ignore or suppress

  • Do you experience compulsions, which are:

    • Repetitive behaviors, such as hand washing or checking, that you feel driven to do in response to the obsession

    • The compulsions are aimed to reduce distress or prevent some dreaded event from happening, and are clearly excessive

  • Do you spend a significant amount of time dealing with your obsessions and compulsions (more than an hour per day)?

    • Or, do your obsessions and compulsions interfere with your day-to-day functioning and relationships?

If you answered yes to each of the above questions, you may have obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Understanding Anxiety and OCD: It’s Not Your Fault

If you're like most people with OCD, you've probably tried so many tips and tricks to stop the behavior, and although some work for a bit, nothing gets you to a place of being able to consistently manage the behavior. You then blame yourself for not working hard enough to get better, but the truth is, IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT.

OCD treatment is an in-depth process that works best when you partner with a St. Louis psychologist who understands what you’re going through. Through our work together, I will help you get to a place where YOU are in control of your OCD instead of it controlling you. You’ll enjoy a life free from the pain and suffering your OCD has caused. You’ll feel self-confident, happy, closer in your relationships, and excited to do the things you love to do!

OCD Treatment St Louis

If you’re dealing with daily OCD symptoms, the time to act is now. With OCD therapy, you can take back control of your life and relationships. So don’t suffer any longer. Contact me today for specialized, confidential and effective treatment for OCD in St Louis.