Treatment for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
The intrusive thoughts are impossible to escape.
Whatever you want to call them – intrusive, obsessive, unwanted – it’s the thoughts that you cannot seem to overcome. They spin round and round and no matter what you do, you don’t get any relief. Sometimes all you think about is how to stop thinking about it.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can show up in a number of ways. In fact, there is a long list of subtypes of OCD and you may be experiencing one or more of them. The gold standard treatment approach is something called ERP (see below). Aaron J Boggs, LPC, utilizes this approach combined with other evidence based modalities to provide clients with the tools you need to manage these unwanted thoughts on their own.
Derrick* was overwhelmed
Plagued by the thought that he was going to get sick, Derrick would do the same rituals over and over again. He would wash his hands over and over, clean and disinfect his home, and go to the doctor every week. All of that cleaning and washing took up hours of his day. His doctor would no longer see him and kept referring him to the Emergency Room. He was not even able to work for more than a couple of hours and he was afraid he was going to lose his job. The most frustrating thing was that all of those rituals didn’t even help him feel better.
Derrick went to a bunch of counselors and even a psychiatrist but nothing worked. Everyone told him to stop thinking about it and worrying so much. Easy for them to say! Something new needed to happen or nothing was ever going to change.
Some people have obsessive thoughts that never stop
“What if I want to hurt someone or myself? Will I be able to stop before I do it?”
“Am I a terrible person for thinking such immoral thoughts? Does god hate me?”
“Is my partner really that into me? Maybe I’m not good enough for them. They’re probably already cheating on me or thinking of leaving.”
“What if I’m gay/bisexual/straight and have been lying to myself all of this time?”
“What if I’m not real? Or this world isn’t real? What’s the point if none of this is real?”
All of these are examples of real obsessive thoughts that clients have shared with their therapist. They try to manage them by distracting themselves, asking someone else to reassure them that they aren’t crazy, or just putting it out of their mind, but nothing seems to work for very long.
What is ERP?
ERP stands for Exposure and Response Prevention. The approach uses systematic exposure exercises, beginning in the counseling room and expanding into everyday life, to build strength and resilience to better manage these unwanted thoughts and behaviors that are taking up so much of your time and energy.
I’m going to be honest with you. This is hard work. In my opinion, one of the hardest things to overcome and learn to manage is our own thought process. But even though it’s hard, it’s way easier than continuing to live with the agony you are experiencing now.
A more satisfying life is only a phone call away.
There is no reason to continue living with obsessions and compulsions that consume your life. You have the strength to change it, but you need support and guidance from a qualified therapist.
It’s time to change the way that you think about your thoughts!
Click here to set up a free consultation!
*Name and details changed to protect client confidentiality.