There is nothing like living with Obsesssive-Compulsive Disorder. It’s so disruptive to someone’s life, and yet there is often a feeling of shame due to the general lack of understanding about this disorder. So, often, not only does someone have to experience the distress of OCD, they also get to feel badly about how OCD is impacting those that they love.  OCD can steal time, joy, and peace of mind. 

OCD can present in a variety of ways. Often, when people think of OCD, they think of contamination OCD, which is a common form of OCD but certainly not the only way it presents. OCD can also present in checking behaviors (like checking door locks or whether the stove has been turned off, or whether electrical items have been unplugged). It can also present in internal compulsions like counting. Someone with OCD might need to have things arranged in a certain way or it will cause anxiety. Some people have to perform actions in a certain way, and if they don’t they may get a feeling of impending doom that makes them feel like something bad will happen such as a loved one being harmed.

If you think you might have OCD,

I highly encourage you to talk with

a mental health professional who

has been TRAINED in working with

people with obsessive-compulsive

disorder.  Someone with this expertise can also tell you if what you are experiencing is not actually OCD, or something like anxiety (this has definitely happened multiple times in my practice–just being a perfectionist doesn’t necessarily mean you have OCD). 

**There are many counselors who state that they work with people with OCD.  They may say this because they have been trained in Cognitive-Behavioral therapy and have a basic understanding of how to do Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP).  People who have not been thoroughly trained in Exposure and Response Prevention for OCD will often not be able to provide the level of expertise that will be of best benefit to someone suffering from OCD.  This can lead to frustration, and sometimes the feeling that you will never get better. This is why I HIGHLY RECOMMEND finding someone with training specific to working with people with OCD.

I received my Exposure and Response Prevention training through the BTTI (Behavior Therapy Training Institute), hosted by the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF). I have taken additional courses in treating OCD, including courses on working with families of people with OCD. I am highly committed to providing competent and relevant support to people with OCD.