OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER (OCD)

People with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder struggle with obsessions, intrusive and unwanted thoughts, images, and impulses, that cause them significant distress. To alleviate the distress, the person will engage in compulsions, either mental or physical, to try to reduce the anxiety, sense of disgust or “just-not-right feelings”. Obsessional themes include fear of contamination, thoughts of harming oneself or others, taboo sexual/religious thoughts, and relationship related fears. Compulsions often appear as rituals such as cleaning, checking, reassurance seeking, repeating, hoarding, and sorting, but can also take the form of equally debilitating “mental” rituals that often go unnoticed by others.

Children and adults with OCD are often compelled to perform these ritualistic behaviors for hours at a time, wreaking havoc on their normal routine, schoolwork, job, family, or social activities. Family members are usually at a loss for how to respond, and the individual suffering with OCD is unable to stop behaviors that they know don’t make sense. 

But it is possible to tolerate unwanted thoughts and sensations without resorting to compulsions or rituals.

We work with both children and adults who struggle with OCD, and offer parents and family members guidance and support in helping respond appropriately to loved ones.