Coping Mechanisms for OCD


Obsessive compulsive disorder is a mental health disorder that affects any age, any gender, and any sex. More specifically, OCD is when a person has uncontrollable and reoccurring thoughts or obsessions that cause compulsions which cause them to repeat the same thing over and over. I was unaware that there are actually 4 different types of OCD. There is cleaning/contamination OCD where if something is uncleanly or contaminated, they become uneasy, causing them to consistently keep surfaces clean. Then there is order/symmetry OCD where the person has very intense urge to arrange and rearrange things until they feel they are adequate. Next, there is harm OCD where you live in a constant feel of harming yourself or others. Lastly, there is hoarding OCD where a home is virtually unrecognizable due to large amounts of clutter.

 

OCD affects people in a myriad of ways. This disorder can lead to uncomfortable subtypes such as hair pulling, skin picking, and body dysmorphia due to the stress of the situation. Some people do not even know they have the disorder and go undiagnosed for years of their life. OCD can cause significant distress in everyday life and cause disruption of everyday activity. Because of this, it is important to uncover treatments or coping mechanisms for the disorder.

 

Because not all OCD symptoms are the same, therapy, medication, or even a combination of the two can provide to be helpful. Cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy are the most fitting in treating OCD. Cognitive behavioral therapy places the person in an anxiety-induced situation so they are given the opportunity to then thought record and reframe certain thought patterns. Exposure therapy for example would take someone who thoroughly enjoys cleaning and place them in a situation that may not be as cleanly in order to get them to confront the feared stimuli. This will reduce the person’s fearful reaction.

 

 

References

Rice, M. (2021). 4 Types of OCD. Talk Space.

https://www.talkspace.com/blog/types-of-ocd/

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