OCD consists of two hallmark symptoms: obsessions and compulsions. Someone diagnosed with OCD can experience both symptoms or only one of the two symptoms.
Obsessions are repetitive unwanted thoughts, images or urges. They are described as intrusive, meaning that they unwittingly pop into one's mind and are experienced as unpleasant and distressing or disturbing.
Some common obsessions include:
Compulsions are repetitive behaviors that a person performs. Compulsions are used as a way to reduce anxiety related to the obsession (although they may have no realistic connection to the obsessions) and are often done in excess.
Some common compulsions include:
If you have concerns related to possible OCD it is important to be properly assessed by a qualified mental health professional who specializes in assessing and diagnosing OCD. Not all mental health professionals are capable of properly recognizing the symptoms of OCD or differentiating those symptoms from other mental health issues. It is important to properly assess and rule out other possible diagnoses and/or determine potential comtborbidiites (co-occuring mental health issues).
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is a specific sub-type of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) that has the strongest evidence-based for the psychological treatment of OCD. A mental health professional should have specific and specialized training in ERP for OCD. It is important to ask the professional you are working with whether they have the necessary training to assist you.
Medication is also a strongly supportive evidence-based treatment for OCD, often used in combination with ERP. However, Psychologists are not qualified to provide advice or guidance related to medications. If medication is a treatment option you would like to consider it would be best to speak with your Family Doctor or Psychiatrist.
According to the International OCD Foundation, "The majority of people with OCD (about 7 out of 10) will benefit from either medication or ERP."
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