Life with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

If you’ve seen the movie As Good As It Gets , you’re familiar with the repetitive behavior that defines the life of the main character, Melvin Udall. While Hollywood doesn’t always hit the nail on the head in its depiction of mental health disorders, this particular movie was nearly spot on. It showed a character with severe Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder who isolated himself from others and sabotaged himself from developing meaningful relationships with the people around him.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is when a pattern of unreasonable thoughts and fears leads to repetitive behaviors and compulsions. These compulsions often interfere with daily life and activities. Compulsions may offer a little relief, but the urges keep coming back, which leads to more compulsive behaviors. It can be a cycle that never ends.

OCD can be triggered by personal trauma, such as an abuse or death. Some of the obsessive themes and symptoms that may manifest in OCD patients include:

Theme: Fear of germs
Symptoms: Won’t touch doorknobs or shake hands with anyone

Theme: Need for order
Symptoms: Constant organization of personal belongings, such as arranging things a certain way before leaving the house

Theme: Excessive fear of making a mistake
Symptoms: Needing constant encouragement or reassurance from others

While research hasn’t pointed to any one particular cause of OCD, the medical community agrees that personal traumas and genetics are two of the most probable causes. If you have a family history of OCD or other mental health disorders, it can increase your risk of developing this condition.

OCD treatments will not necessarily lead to eradication, but it can help get the symptoms under control so that the individual suffering can enjoy a better quality of life.

The two main treatments for OCD are therapy and medications. For most people, a combination of these two treatments will work well. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of therapy that’s shown to be highly effective for OCD patients. CBT techniques work to change thought patterns in order to change emotions and behaviors.

Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is a type of CBT therapy that encourages patients to face their fear or obsession head-on. It exposes them gradually to the feared object, such as dirt or germs, in order to find a healthy way to deal with those feelings and leave them behind. ERP is difficult and takes practice, but over time it can be an effective way to cope with the compulsions associated with OCD.

OCD is a chronic condition, but with proper treatment, patients can live life with these compulsions safely under control.

Creative Counseling Center is here for you. We’re happy to offer a free consultation to any new patient in need of counseling or curious about whether our practice is a good fit for them. We see children as young as age 2. So whatever your or your loved one’s age—and whatever the struggle—counseling could make all the difference. Complete the brief form below to be connected with a member of our counseling team and start your journey towards mental well-being.

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