Oct 7

What is OCD and How is it Treated?

What Is OCD and How is it Treated?

October 12 – 19 is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) awareness week. OCD is very treatable, but it is essential to find experienced clinicians who are trained in evidenced-based treatment, Exposure and Response Prevention (E/RP).

About OCD:

OCD is a mental health disorder that affects children, teens, and adults. In the United States, approximately 1 in 40 adults will develop OCD in their lives (2.5%) and 1 in 100 children and adolescents (1%) have it at any time, according to the International OCD Foundation (iocdf.org).

Obsessions:

Obsessions are intrusive thoughts and images that get stuck in your mind and increase anxiety; they are experienced as unwanted and unpleasant. Obsessions can involve many different themes including thoughts about harm (e.g., “What if I lose control and violently hurt someone?), responsibility (e.g., “What if I’m responsible for a fire because I was not careful enough?”), morality or religion (e.g., Am I a moral person? or “What if I offended God?”),  and a very common area, contamination (e.g., fears about coming in contact with germs or other contaminants). OCD can really focus on anything; the common thread is feeling uncomfortable when there is some uncertainty that feels difficult to tolerate.

Compulsions:

Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental rituals that people with OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) feel driven to perform. These actions are usually done to reduce anxiety or prevent a feared outcome, even if the link isn’t logical. For example, someone with contamination fears may wash their hands repeatedly, while another person might flip a light switch a specific number of times to prevent an unrelated disaster.

Some common compulsions include:

    • Physical behaviors like excessive handwashing, checking, or repeating actions.
    • Mental compulsions such as silently repeating words, counting, praying, or mentally reviewing events.
    • Avoidance and reassurance-seeking, which are also forms of compulsive behavior.

The Cycle of Obsessions and Compulsions:

In OCD, the cycle of obsessions and compulsions can feel like it offers relief—but it’s a trap. Take the example of contamination fears: you worry about germs, so you wash your hands excessively. Your anxiety goes down, and it seems like the ritual worked. But here’s the problem: this relief is only temporary, and the obsession soon returns, demanding another ritual. The underlying anxiety is never truly faced or resolved.

This loop of obsession → anxiety → compulsion → temporary relief keeps the OCD symptoms going.

Because you use compulsions to feel better, you never get the chance to learn important things:

  • No Habituation
    • Anxiety is unpleasant, but it naturally fades over time if you allow it to. By doing a compulsion, you prevent your brain from learning this. You feel better, but only because you avoided discomfort—not because the threat passed or wasn’t real.
  • Missed Learning Opportunities
    • You never get to see that the feared outcome (e.g., getting sick) usually doesn’t happen—and that even if it did, you would likely be okay and able to cope. Without this experience, the fear remains powerful and unchecked.
  • Short-Term Fix, Long-Term Trap
    • Compulsions give quick relief, but they also reinforce the obsession, teaching your brain that the fear was valid and that rituals are necessary. This keeps the cycle going and often strengthens it over time.
  • Functional Impairment
    • As compulsions increase, they become more time-consuming, mentally exhausting, and disruptive. They can interfere with work, school, relationships, and your ability to live freely and meaningfully.

How Do We Break the OCD Cycle?

The good news is that OCD is very treatable with evidence-based treatment called Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). It’s considered the gold standard, is very effective and is backed by decades of research.

ERP works by teaching you new ways to respond to your OCD thoughts—so they no longer control your life. At first, you’ll learn tools and cognitive strategies that help you think differently about OCD. Then, with support from your therapist, you’ll gradually face the situations, thoughts, or images that trigger your anxiety—without doing the compulsions that usually follow.

By facing fears and resisting compulsions, you give your brain a chance to learn:

  • Anxiety fades on its own
  • The feared outcomes rarely happen
  • You are capable of coping even if they do.

You’re not alone, and you’re never rushed: 

This is a gradual, collaborative process. You and your therapist will move at a pace that feels right for you—never pushing beyond what you’re ready for. We understand how hard it can be to face anxiety and fear, and we’re here to support you through every step.

As your brain learns and adapts, what once felt overwhelming begins to feel manageable. The hard things get easier.

With time, OCD loosens its hold. Obsessions lose their power. Compulsions fade. And most importantly, you get your time, energy, and freedom back—to focus on the things that truly matter to you.