Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
(OCD)
What is OCD?
OCD is an anxiety-related condition characterized by recurring, unwanted thoughts, images, or urges (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) performed to reduce the distress caused by those obsessions.
Obsessions are intrusive and typically feel uncontrollable. They often involve themes like contamination, harm, symmetry/perfection, sexual or religious doubts, or fear of losing control.
Compulsions are repetitive actions (e.g., checking, washing, counting, repeating words, seeking reassurance) or mental rituals (e.g., mental reviewing, praying, neutralizing thoughts) intended to prevent or undo feared outcomes or to reduce anxiety. Compulsions provide only temporary relief and can become time-consuming and disruptive.
Left untreated, OCD can begin to negatively impact your time through rituals and avoidance, consuming large parts of the day, interfering with work, school, relationships, and self-care. OCD can also cause persistent anxiety, shame, guilt, frustration, and isolation. Many people try to hide symptoms out of embarrassment. OCD can begin to reduce concentration, productivity, and the ability to make decisions. It may also lead to avoidance of places, people, or activities tied to obsessions.
OCD does not only impact the individual experiencing the symptoms. Loved ones can be affected by accommodations, caretaking, or conflict around rituals. Family members may unintentionally maintain and enable rituals (family accommodation), which can reinforce OCD.
Common OCD myths and misunderstandings:
Myth: “Having obsessive thoughts means I will act on them.”
Reality: Most people with intrusive thoughts find them distressing precisely because they conflict with their values; the presence of a thought is not the same as intent or action.
Myth: “Compulsions protect me from danger.”
Reality: Compulsions may temporarily reduce anxiety but reinforce the cycle and increase OCD’s hold over time.Myth: “OCD is just about being neat or a personality quirk.”
Reality: OCD can take many forms beyond cleanliness and can be severely disabling.
How does OCD develop?
OCD arises from a combination of biological, psychological, and environmental factors. These can include brain circuitry differences in how threats and safety are processed, genetic vulnerability, modeled and learned responses to anxiety, and stressful or traumatic life events.
Many people notice OCD symptoms begin in adolescence or early adulthood, but onset can occur at any age.
Can you treat OCD?
Yes! OCD is treatable and can be reduced to the point that is does not impact your functioning, allowing you to live a normal life. Once you learn how to navigate tools used in treatment, you can confidently use these skills on your own to maintain management of symptoms throughout your lifetime.
The gold standard of treatment for OCD is Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) paired with Inference Based - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT).
ERP involves gradual, structured exposure to feared thoughts or situations while intentionally refraining from compulsions, allowing anxiety to decrease naturally and new learning to occur. Cognitive interventions help address unhelpful beliefs (e.g., overestimation of threat, inflated responsibility, perfectionism) and reduce the meaning given to intrusive thoughts.
It is also additionally helpful to develop mindfulness and somatic practices to support acceptance, distress tolerance and ability to self soothe to tend to lingering OCD symptoms.
Medications like Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly prescribed when symptoms are moderate to severe or when therapy alone is not sufficient. Medication is often used in combination with CBT/ERP.
What should I expect from
OCD therapy?
We’ll begin with a careful, nonjudgmental assessment of obsessions, compulsions, triggers, and how symptoms affect your life. Treatment is collaborative and paced to your readiness. You’ll be taught principles of ERP and cognitive work, with specific tasks to practice outside of sessions and gradual exposures tailored to your concerns and your building comfort level.
Therapy respects your values and identity. Intrusive thoughts are explored without moral judgment; we distinguish thought content from intent. Early sessions focus on education, building motivation, and designing an exposure hierarchy. Anxiety typically dips in waves; tolerating temporary increases is part of recovery. Consistent practice and therapist guidance produce the best outcomes.
You’ve suffered long enough, it’s time to relieve the stress and begin experiencing wellness.
If you are seeking online OCD therapy and live in Nevada, Utah or Maryland, we can help. We serve across the states in Las Vegas, Reno, Pahrump, St. George, Salt Lake City, Logan, Baltimore, Annapolis and Frederick. Schedule your first session today!