Understanding OCD: Navigating the Intricacies of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Concepts are much different than reality and articulating an experience will never be the same as living it. Everyone’s experience is shaped by their unique personality and life experiences. Regardless, one common thread experienced by those living with OCD is a feeling of discomfort that can’t quite be shaken or fully satisfied. Where problem solving is futile and escaping the constant thoughts feels impossible. Relief from anxiety, panic, guilt or sadness come in waves but never seem to last before your thrown back in its sticky grip. It feels wildly irresponsible to ignore and counterintuitive to allow the experience to just be, without fixing. Sometimes it’s so automatic, one isn’t even aware there is a fixing or relieving associated. And it isn’t about something being clean- no it’s about someone’s morality, whether or not they’re a bad person, whether or not they will feel this way forever, whether or not something bad is about to happen, whether or not they are losing their mind, if death is on the horizon, or eternal punishment. It feels like a lot is on the line here. There is an echo of one’s fears sprinkled in what can seem like disconnected thoughts and behaviors; yet all tie back to a fundamental possibility or doubt that drives this person’s reality. It can be confusing, debilitating, isolating and quite frankly, terrifying. And it doesn’t have to be navigated alone!
What can therapy offer?
Therapy can provide a supportive person who really gets it and is trained in ways to help that are backed by scientific research to be effective in reducing symptoms and increasing quality of life. Therapy can also put words to your experience, bring connection and understanding, offer new ways of engaging with this part of you, relief from symptoms and tools to show up in life in a way that aligns with what you’ve always hoped.
Put words to your experience.
To have lived with your brain operating this specific way, that doesn’t seem to match everyone around you, can be a lonely experience. Therapy offers a space to put words to your experience and begin to piece apart what has been going on for you.
Bring connection and understanding.
It can be confusing to decipher what is OCD, what is you, what is what. Slowly disentangling OCD from who you are at your core can lift some of the confusion, increasing a sense of understanding and connection to oneself. At the end of the day, we are treating the person, not just OCD.
Offer new ways of engaging with this part of you.
OCD isn’t just going to disappear, and maybe it feels there’s good reason not to. It’s offered you something, even if not entirely effective, and getting curious about its role can foster a sense of compassion and appreciation for this aspect of you.
Relief from symptoms.
Evidence-based treatments include Exposure & Response Prevention and Inference-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. ERP is the “gold standard” treatment in the United States and has been shown to be incredibly effective, more so than medication. I-CBT is the first-line treatment in Scotland and has slowly begun its descent in this direction over the last thirty years. This treatment has been shown to be effective and is an incredible option for those who are looking for a bit more than exposure.
Tools to show up in life that align with what you’ve always hoped.
Therapy can help bring clarity to what you care about and the kind of person you want to be. Determining what you value and what you want to shift in your world can be the fuel to make those changes come to fruition. Acceptance & Commitment Therapy is a treatment modality that guides clients to learn how to make space for their feelings and experience, while also showing up in the world in a meaningful way.
Written by Jackie Ward, LMSW
If any of this resonates, please reach out! We have a team of trained clinicians who would be honored to be a part of your journey.
To connect with me directly: https://www.theandwaytherapy.com/jackie-ward
