What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?

OCD is a distressing, debilitating, and time consuming condition that affects millions of people, yet remains underdetected in the healthcare system. (iocdf.org)

This means that many people live with OCD without getting a diagnosis or knowing that treatment is possible.

For OCD to be considered, we often need the ‘O’ (Obsessions), and the ‘C’ (Compulsions) to be present. Symptoms also need to be exhausting, distressing, and/or time consuming (this is the ‘disorder’ part).

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Common OCD symptoms include:

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  • A major OCD symptom. Obsessions are thoughts and images that feel intrusive, repetitive, and out of one’s control. Many individuals experiencing obsessions describe them as unwelcome and illogical, and often feel disgust, fear, or doubt when they occur. Common examples of obsessions include (but are not limited to):

    • Responsibility (eg. being ‘negligent’ or accidentally causing someone harm)

    • Safety

    • Contamination

    • Violent or sexual thoughts

    • Intrusive thoughts about religion, being ‘good’, or death

    • Perfectionism or ‘exactness’

    (iocdf.org)

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  • Repetitive behaviours or thoughts that ‘neutralize’ the distress that accompanies obsessions. Compulsions may make the individual feel better temporarily, but often need to be repeated when obsessions re-emerge.

    Some examples of compulsions are: Seeking reassurance from others, checking for mistakes, excessive washing/cleaning, and repetitive “mental replaying” of events.

    (iocdf.org)

White silhouette of a fern leaf, like patterns an OCD psychologist/therapist might use for calming focus, on solid black background.

  • Distress at the content and uncontrollability of the thoughts themselves, or exhaustion at the time-commitment and effort caused by obsessive thinking and “neutralizing” behaviours.

    Intrusive thoughts and ‘compulsive’ actions can be normal. For OCD to be present, we need these symptoms to be significantly impacting everyday life.

Therapy for OCD

Many of our clients with OCD report that previous therapy techniques (like distraction, breathing techniques, or “positive thinking”) were were ineffective or only worked temporarily.

This is because OCD requires a specific intervention that differs from other approaches.

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy is a gold-standard, evidence-based treatment for OCD. With ERP, you learn to face your intrusive thoughts or triggers without engaging in compulsions or avoidance. Over time, this rewires the brain’s “threat system,” reducing the intensity and frequency of the thoughts. Most OCD Psychologists who practice evidence-based treatment will train in or employ ERP to help you manage OCD symptoms.

While ERP can sometimes be challenging, it is effective. We will collaborate with you to tailor ERP so that it is manageable and realistic. 

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For more information on OCD therapy - or to discuss whether what you’re experiencing is OCD and if we can help - Click below to contact us for a complimentary consultation.

We offer in-person appointments to professionals in Edmonton, or virtual appointments anywhere in Alberta.

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More information on OCD can also be found on www.iocdf.org.

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