Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
OCD can be relentless, intrusive, and distressing. OCD is not just anxiety; and often misunderstood and hard to explain. It goes against what you really care about and pushes you to do 'something' or else. OCD has never been about lining up your colour pencils. OCD is like the roommate you never asked for and leave you exhausted and confused.
Often, it can take too long to do anything and no amount of reassurance will be enough. It's not often 'logical' and can seem odd. You get up the next day just to do it all over again.
Common obsessions: thoughts about harm or death to self/others, contamination, sexual, spiritual/religious.
Common rituals: checking, washing, mental reassurance.
How can therapy help?
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy can help alleviate the distressing thoughts and minimize the repetitive behaviours so you have more time to do what you want to do. Treatment can help you become less reactive to your obsessions and reduce the need to do rituals. You can tell the difference between what are your own thoughts and what's OCD. In session, you will notice the difference so it builds your confidence in knowing what's possible. Prevention is also built in so you know before it even starts again. If ERP hasn't been as effective or sustainable for you in the past, I also offer other options.
Embrace Psychology also hosts OCD awareness events in Edmonton. Please visit the Community Engagement page for upcoming events.
For more information on OCD, please check out the International OCD Foundation: https://iocdf.org/.
Crys Brown is also another trusted OCD specialist that practices in Edmonton. Please check out Crys' practice here: https://www.brownpsychological.com/