Counselling for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

OCD

Obsessions are repetitive and persistent unwanted thoughts, urges, or images that are intrusive and cause distress.

If you live with OCD, you may have certain thoughts that you can't control. These are called intrusive thoughts. These thoughts appear in your mind without any intentional effort or invitation and usually contain unsettling, alarming, or unusual content. These thoughts are disturbing and do not align with your values and intentions.

You may also ruminate excessively whereby thinking about many things, worrying about, analyzing, and trying to understand or clarify a particular thought or situation.

Compulsive actions are certain mental or physical ritualistic behaviors that you do to make the feelings of anxiety or distress go away. These compulsions can take up much of your time and interfere with your daily routine.

Some common themes of OCD are:

 

  • If you constantly doubt whether you did something correctly and feel the need to go back multiple times to re-check, this is a sign of OCD. Repeatedly checking locks, appliances and other things around the house is an example of compulsive behaviour. This behaviour may be because you’re afraid you didn’t shut something off, or lock a door, creating doubt & fear in your mind.

  • You may experience recurring sexual imagery and worry about acting out in a sexually inappropriate manner. You may also doubt your sexual orientation. These thoughts are disturbing and do not align with your values and intentions.

  • Do you have unwanted thoughts of aggression and worry about harming others? Are you always worrying that something will happen to someone you love? It's common to be concerned about the safety of our family and friends, but it becomes unhealthy when that worry becomes obsessive.

  • If you wash your hands compulsively or feel like your home is never clean enough, despite constant tidying and sanitizing, these are common signs of OCD. Avoiding social situations and activities because you're afraid of germs and contamination is also a sign of OCD.

  • If you obsessively worry about breaking moral rules, or if you're constantly seeking reassurance or asking forgiveness because you feel that you may have done something morally or socially offensive. You may be experiencing this type of OCD.

  • Do you need to have furniture or objects arranged a certain way, and get upset if they’re moved? The need for constant symmetry and orderliness is one of the most common forms of OCD. You may be obsessed with certain patterns or numbers, and have specific compulsions to either incorporate or avoid these in your life. Needing to touch specific objects or tap them a certain number of times is another way this type of OCD can present itself.

 

  • If you're extremely afraid of losing self-control, you may try to manage these fears with compulsive behaviors such as trying to excessively control other aspects of your life.

 
 

OCD of any kind can be incredibly isolating and disturbing for many people. It can be hard to talk about, and even harder to find help that feels safe and trustworthy. 

OCD is a complex disorder that makes everyday life seem like an impossible struggle. It can slow you down and take hours of your time. You may feel like you're the only one struggling with this, but you're not alone.

I have experience with CBT - Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and ERP - Exposure and Response Prevention with clients. ERP therapy exposes people to scenarios that provoke their obsessions and helps them manage their compulsive responses. The ultimate goal of ERP is to free people from the cycle of obsession and compulsions through desensitization.

Therapy is an incredibly effective tool for managing OCD. It provides you with a safe and supportive space to explore your thoughts & feelings and learn new coping skills. Therapy helps you regain your life by teaching you how to manage intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviours. 

You can meet me in person in Bangkok, Thailand, or schedule an online appointment for my therapy services at Three Point Counselling.