OCD Treatment Toronto
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health disorder that affects people of all ages and lifestyles. It occurs when a person falls into a cycle of obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are unwanted and intrusive thoughts, images, or impulses that can cause intense painful feelings. Whereas compulsions can be thought of as an individual’s attempt to get rid of obsessive thoughts and/or alleviate pain. Compulsions are often the “action” or “behavioural” component of OCD. OCD can be a very debilitating illness that can impact one’s quality of life. Treatment options for OCD vary however the most effective treatments are a combination of medication and talk therapy. One particular kind of CBT treatment called exposure and response prevention has been shown to be the most effective. Exposure in ERP is the practice of slowly exposing yourself the thoughts, images, objects, and situations that trigger your obsessive thoughts.Response prevention in ERP can be thought of as the choosing not to perform compulsive behavior once it “triggers” anxiety that drives the obsessions .In this kind of therapy individuals who are suffering from OCD are gradually exposed to their “triggers”. While it may sound counterintuitive and scary at first, the goal is to do the exposure at a pace that feels comfortable to you alongside a trusted health professional such as your therapist.