Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

It’s like your brain’s on a loop…

It replays the same terrifying thought… over and over. No matter how hard you try to ignore it, it just keeps coming back.

It’s there when you wake up in the morning, and it’s there when you go to bed at night.

The intrusive thoughts can be so vivid and intense that you feel like you’re going crazy!

And then… there are the compulsions.

There are those things you feel like you HAVE to do… or else something bad will happen.

It’s like a never-ending battle between your brain and your body.

You know your thoughts and actions are irrational, but you can’t stop them.

It’s like your brain has taken control of your life, and you’re just along for the ride.

Which one’s driving YOU crazy?

Germs?

Obsessing over germs…

Feeling the need to wash your hands constantly to avoid getting sick…

Carrying hand sanitizer with you everywhere you go…

Avoiding touching anything in public places…

Spending hours scrubbing floors, wiping down surfaces, and sanitizing everything in sight…

Worrying that if you don’t wash your hands enough, you’ll feel an unbearable sense of dirtiness and disgust – or get sick – or won’t be able to focus on your job or studies (or anything for that matter)…

Scrupulosity?

It’s a constant battle between your faith and your mind.

You’re a devout Muslim, but every time you read a passage from the Quran or go to the mosque, your brain obsesses over the smallest details. Are you praying the right way? Are you doomed for eternal punishment?

You repeat certain prayers again and again… or wash multiple times for fear you didn’t do it right the first time… or constantly ask for forgiveness for sins you’re not even sure you committed.

Orderliness?

Obsessed with symmetry and order, things need to feel perfectly right. You can’t stand it when objects are out of place or when things are uneven.

So, you have to spend hours rearranging your furniture, straightening pictures, and lining up books so that everything is perfectly aligned. You even have a specific way of organizing computer files and emails.

If something is even slightly out of place, you feel an overwhelming sense of anxiety and can’t focus on anything else until it’s fixed.

Harm?

There’s a constant worry that you’ll accidentally hurt someone physically or emotionally.

When you see a sharp object, your brain immediately imagines the worst-case scenario. What if you accidentally hurt someone with it? What if you lose control and do something terrible? Even driving is a terrifying experience, as you constantly imagine losing control of the car and causing a crash.

But it isn’t just objects that trigger these obsessions. Anytime you are around people, you imagine yourself hurting them. What if you accidentally push someone down the stairs?

Relationships?

You love your partner and have no doubt that they are the one. But your brain just won’t let you enjoy your relationship without constant doubt and worry.

Every time they do something that doesn’t fit your idea of the “perfect” partner, your brain obsesses over it. Are they really right for you? Are you settling for someone who isn’t your true match?

You might be spending hours scrolling through relationship advice forums to find answers to the endless stream of questions cropping up.

You can be freed from the grip of OCD.

Together, we will engage in the gold-standard treatment for OCD known as ERP (exposure and response prevention).

I will help you face your fears and obsessions… and learn how to resist the behaviors you feel compelled to do in response.

We will identify your specific triggers and compulsions. Then, we’ll work through a series of exposure exercises where you will be gradually exposed to your fears in a controlled environment. For example, if you fear germs, you may be asked to touch a door handle or shake hands with someone without washing your hands afterward.

You will be encouraged to resist the urge to perform your compulsions, like washing your hands. Over time, you will learn that your fears and anxieties will naturally decrease without giving in to your compulsions.

You don’t have to live this way anymore!

Start healing today by calling to schedule your free consultation: (949) 691-4099.