Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, or OCD, is a biologically based mental illness where the sufferer has obsessions, or thoughts that are intrusive and distressing, and they perform rituals (compulsions) to relieve the anxiety. If the degree of functioning and impairment is high enough, it’s considered a disorder.
If you think or know you have OCD, we’ll develop a plan to show you that it doesn’t have to rule (or ruin) your life. On the contrary, we want you to be the best you can be.
The definition of OCD for the child is the same, but diagnosis can be a little trickier. Depending on the child’s age, their vocabulary may simply not be able to describe truly what they’re feeling. This is why getting an expert involved is essential. So if you’re not sure that your child has OCD but suspect it, call me, and we can discuss. Many of my clients are children, and I’m well-versed in helping children understand the various techniques for managing their OCD.
ERP is the gold standard for treating OCD, and I’m one of a few therapists in Northeast Ohio trained in it. For more information about treatment and the importance of ERP, please visit the International OCD Foundation.
There are a lot of anxiety myths out there. In my last blog post, I dispelled 3 of them. Here are the final 4. Myth: Thought stopping (or replacing, suppressing) is an effective anxiety management technique. I think these were techniques used in the 80’s or sometime, because I still get the random client who…
There are a lot of anxiety myths out there. In my next 2 blog posts, I dispel 7 of them — and give you better solutions for dealing with excessive worry or anxiety. Myth: Anxiety is bad. Anyone who’s been reading my stuff knows the answer to this one. False! Anxiety is neither good nor…
I really try not to be offended easily, and truly, I’m not. But as someone who treats patients with obsessive compulsive disorder, there’s something I need to say. Even in this unprecedented, high-stress, we-have-to-wash-our-hands situation, it is not ok to associate “crazy” with “germaphobe” as I heard a very well-respected reporter say. It’s not ok…
Ever since the OCD conference last month, I’ve been thinking so much about the idea of willingness. it’s not a new concept for me, but something Dr. Jonathan Abramowitz said landed perfectly. He said “we’re going to use exposures to get better at having anxiety.” For anyone who hasn’t been reading my posts, an exposure…
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could control our worries? Sometimes. But all is not lost. Worry is a temporary feeling just like joy or anger, and it, too, serves a purpose. While we can’t control the initial thoughts that may have evoked the worry, we can control how we respond to the thoughts. The…
I just came back from the Annual OCD Conference in Austin. Something I kept hearing over and over again was anxiety and fear tolerance over anxiety and fear reduction. As a therapist specializing in the treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and anxiety, this notion is something I know and impart often. But the conference speakers…
