OCD
OCD is not about being neat or organized — it is a serious anxiety disorder driven by intrusive thoughts and compulsive rituals that can take over your life.
What is OCD?
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a chronic mental health condition characterized by unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) performed to reduce the distress those thoughts cause. OCD affects people of all ages and backgrounds. It is often misunderstood and trivialized in popular culture, but for those who live with it, OCD can be profoundly disabling — consuming hours each day and interfering with work, relationships, and quality of life.
How It Affects Daily Life
Living with OCD can feel like being trapped in a loop you cannot escape. You know, on some level, that the fears are irrational — but the anxiety feels real and urgent, and the compulsions provide only temporary relief before the cycle begins again. OCD can affect every area of life: relationships, work, school, and the ability to simply be present in the moment. Many people with OCD feel profound shame and hide their symptoms for years before seeking help.
Common Symptoms
- Persistent, unwanted intrusive thoughts, images, or urges
- Fear of contamination, harm, or making mistakes
- Repetitive checking, counting, or arranging behaviors
- Excessive hand-washing, cleaning, or avoidance of 'contaminated' objects
- Seeking reassurance repeatedly from others
- Mental rituals such as counting, praying, or repeating phrases
- Significant time spent on obsessions or compulsions (1+ hour/day)
- Distress when unable to complete rituals
- Avoidance of situations that trigger obsessions
- Difficulty functioning at work, school, or in relationships
Do I Have Symptoms of OCD?
Check any symptoms you've been experiencing. This is for reflection only — not a diagnosis.
How We Treat OCD
Therapy Approach
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the gold-standard therapy for OCD. It involves gradually facing feared situations or thoughts (exposure) while resisting the urge to perform compulsions (response prevention). ERP is highly effective and produces lasting change. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is also used to help patients relate differently to intrusive thoughts.
Medication Management
Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the first-line medications for OCD and are often used in combination with therapy. Higher doses than those used for depression are typically needed. We monitor your response carefully and adjust as needed to find the most effective regimen.
What Patients Can Expect
OCD is highly treatable. Most people experience significant symptom reduction with ERP therapy, medication, or both. Treatment takes time and requires courage — facing fears is hard work — but the results can be life-changing. Many patients go from spending hours each day on rituals to living full, flexible lives.
Questions for Self-Reflection
How much time each day do I spend on obsessive thoughts or compulsive behaviors?
What areas of my life — work, relationships, daily routines — are most affected by OCD?
Have I been avoiding situations or people because of my fears? What have I given up?
What would my life look like if OCD no longer controlled my decisions?
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Break Free from OCD?
You don't have to live trapped in the cycle. Evidence-based treatment works — and we're here to guide you through it.