Therapy can help if obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is affecting your daily life. The disorder causes you to fixate on intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors and could lead to overwhelming anxiety. Here are some therapies for treating OCD:
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
ERP is a therapy treatment that exposes you to situations that trigger your compulsions. Over time, this enables you to resist the urge to act compulsively, weakening your obsession and need for relief. It focuses on helping you build distress tolerance. A therapist works with you to navigate situations that cause mild anxiety and gradually progress to more challenging ones.
If an individual has contamination OCD, they may fear coming into contact with things they perceive to be dirty. During ERP, therapists might ask them to touch a doorknob in a public space and refrain from washing their hands for a set period. With time, the patient learns that anxiety can decrease without giving in to compulsion. This gradual process also helps them develop healthier ways to manage repetitive thoughts.
Cognitive Behavioral Treatment (CBT)
Cognitive therapy helps you challenge distortive thoughts that make your obsessions feel urgent, breaking the cycle of obsession and reducing anxiety. If a person with harm-related obsessive-compulsive disorder has intrusive thoughts about accidentally hurting someone, they might believe they are dangerous, triggering a panic attack. A skilled therapist can guide the patient through cognitive restructuring exercises to examine their likelihood of causing harm and offer a sensible explanation for the reaction. They may learn that the distressing thoughts mean they care about others and want to keep them safe. This process helps the patient regain control over their mind. They also learn to recognize obsessions when triggered and allow them to pass without acting on them.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
If your compulsion stems from traumatic experiences or emotional torment, then EMDR is a commonly used approach. It often helps patients process upsetting memories and lower their compulsion. A psychotherapist helps you reprocess the disturbing memories by recalling the event or trigger. They perform bilateral stimulation by guiding your gaze to follow their finger as it moves side to side as you talk. This not only helps your brain process the traumatic memory but also reduces its emotional impact.
If a person’s obsessive-compulsive disorder began after a terrifying life event such as a car accident, a therapist may use EMDR for treatment. As the person recounts the trauma, the obsessive thoughts may become less intrusive. The therapist also helps them develop a more realistic perspective on the event, which can reduce their compulsive symptoms.
Get Therapy for OCD Today
Therapy helps people with obsessive-compulsive disorder improve their quality of life by gaining control over their thinking patterns and behaviors. If you have OCD, consulting psychological services can help you determine which therapy option is best for you. A doctor may also recommend medication, neuromodulation, or residential treatment to help you manage your compulsive thoughts. Call psychological services today and ask about available treatment options.
