Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
OCD is characterized by and individual having a cycle of obsessions (unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images or impulses that trigger distress) and compulsions (behaviors or thoughts that one uses in attempt to reduce fear, anxiety and distress caused by obsessions).
Many people will have times in their life where they have obsessions and/or compulsions, but that does not mean they have OCD. Those with OCD spend excessive amounts of time in their disorder and it will interfere with activities of daily living, important activities and reduce quality of life.
It can occur at any age, but often will present at 8-12 years old, or late teen-early adulthood.
While many people have ideas on how OCD can present itself, there are numerous subtypes of OCD with variations on the symptoms one may have; Contamination, Responsibility, Sexual, Violent, Religious/moral, Real Event or false memories, Identity, and Perfectionism are some more common themes.
www.iocdf.org
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is a treatment modality, working to identify how thoughts(cognitions), emotions and behaviors relate to each other while then making adjustments to your behaviors and thoughts to treat many mental health problems. Goals of CBT can be to learning to identify and recognize how one’s thinking errors/cognitive distortions can lead to one’s behaviors, and vice versa, leading to a developed plan to make changes to improve one’s quality of life.
Exposure and Ritual Prevention (ERP) is the specific form of CBT that is utilized to treat anxiety disorders. Research has found it to be the most effective for the treatment of anxiety disorders*. CBT has also been show to be effective for many other mental health concerns.
All clinicians at the Center for Anxiety Disorders are trained and utilize CBT as the main treatment modality with their clients.
*Abramowitz JS. Effectiveness of psychological and pharmacological treatments for obsessive-compulsive disorder: A quantitative review. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1997;65:44–52. Abramowitz JS. The psychological treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Can J Psychiatry. 2006;51:407–16).
Anxiety or Anxiety Disorder?
We all have anxiety; it’s is a biological activation of our nervous system to keep us safe, from real or perceived danger. So, then what makes it a disorder? When an individual has impairments or dysfunction as a result of the symptoms from anxiety, it becomes a disorder.
An individual with an anxiety disorder will experience event that triggers a thought that activates a fear, they will then engage in a variety of different behaviors to try to control and reduce the thoughts, fears and physical sensations that arise from an activating incident. As these thoughts, fears, sensations and behaviors increase over time, it becomes a problem when an individual sees impairments and harm to their functioning as a result.
Yes, we all can say we feel anxiety as that is a normal part of human life, but it is important to know the difference between the common feeling and when it becomes impairing to an individual.
Our clinicians will be able to help you identify and diagnose an anxiety disorder, then develop a treatment plan to help you reduce your symptoms, impairments, dysfunction and suffering.
The Center for Anxiety Disorders: Who are we?
The Center for Anxiety Disorders is a group of highly trained clinicians who specialize in the treatment of anxiety disorders using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, with an emphasis on Exposure and Ritual Prevention — or ERP. We are located in Brookfield, WI and serve all of the Milwaukee-metro area.
ERP is empirically validated as the treatment of choice for anxiety disorders*, with the goal of reducing symptoms and not just learning how to manage anxiety. Our therapists are trained to develop an individual treatment plan made for our patient’s specific symptoms of anxiety, as no two patients present the same. We utilize ERP for the treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder with and without Agoraphobia, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
*Abramowitz JS. Effectiveness of psychological and pharmacological treatments for obsessive-compulsive disorder: A quantitative review. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1997;65:44–52. Abramowitz JS. The psychological treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Can J Psychiatry. 2006;51:407–16).
Coming soon!
We’re excited to share that our therapists will begin contributing to our blog soon. Stay tuned!