Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by thoughts or actions that are repetitive, distressing, and intrusive. OCD suffers usually know that their compulsions are unreasonable or irrational, but they serve to alleviate their anxiety. Often, the logic of someone with OCD will appear superstitious, such as an insistence in walking in a certain pattern. OCD sufferers may obsessively clean personal items or hands or constantly check locks, stoves, or light switches. The obsessions and/or compulsions cause distress in functioning.
At Go Psychology, GAD is treated using a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT). In a nutshell a therapy approach known as exposure and response prevention is used. Once the OCD sufferer learns about their disorder, and is able to manage anxiety, they are slowly exposed to the fear stimulus or obsession and given tools to refrain them from responding in their usual manner, and the obsession or compulsion deteriorates over time.
