Anxiety and Obsessive Compulsive Disorders

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Excessive hand washing, repetitive checking, categorizing objects, and mental rituals to ward off intrusive thoughts are some of the many symptoms that can occur with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Often times it is hard to understand when these behaviors can be considered as part of our daily lives or when they can be diagnosed as a disorder. If these behaviors and accompanying thoughts become all-consuming and interfere with living a full life, then Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is needed to treat the anxiety and the associated behaviors.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has been researched and studied as the most effective therapy for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. It is designed to provide both Children and Adults a controlled, structured, and systematic approach where fears and anxieties can be confronted and conquered safely through Exposure and Response Prevention.  

We can easily recognize OCD behaviors in adults; however OCD Behaviors in Children can differ from those in adults and it can be difficult for parents to distinguish symptoms from misbehavior. Children can exhibit some of the following OCD related behaviors:

· Extreme food aversions outside of normal pickiness

· Behavioral melt downs related to intense fear when asked to complete certain activities

· Completing rituals around a specific activity before engaging in the activity

· Avoiding school for fear of loss of control in their environment

· Excessive hand washing for fear of germs

· Difficulty with separating from loved ones for fear of something bad happening to them or themselves

· Making sure everything is perfect or having extreme difficulty when it is not

· Intense fear of sleeping alone in their room

I treat Adults and Children using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to equip them with skills needed to face their OCD symptoms so they can return to a life free from fear.

Body focused repetitive behaviors (hair pulling/skin picking disorders)

What is a Body Focused Repetitive Behavior? Most people find comfort and distraction from anxiety or uncomfortable feelings by biting their nails or playing with their hair. Body Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRB’s) are compulsive behaviors in which a person pulls their hair or picks their skin in response to having to manage feelings of discomfort or anxiety. BFRB’s can become severe and cause noticeable damage to someone’s hair, skin, and appearance which can become extremely distressing.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy offers Adults and Children Habit Reversal Training which addresses the body focused behaviors and provides skills to better manage the underlying emotions driving BFRB’s. I am skilled in utilizing Habit Reversal Training to effectively treat Body Focused Repetitive Behaviors which can provide individuals with long term success and recovery.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Sometimes everything can feel so overwhelming and there is a sense of anxiety and dread around many different situations. The cycle of anxiety can feel like it is never ending. It can be hard to know how to best tackle this form of anxiety. With Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, the thinking errors that accompany Generalized Anxiety Disorder can be transformed in order to help individuals take better control of their environment and to see the world as less fearful.

In addition to using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to transform thoughts, I also work closely with individuals to make behavior changes that will support a new perspective of the world around them. 

Social Anxiety Disorder

Social anxiety disorder can be frequently confused for shyness. The difference between shyness and social anxiety is usually in the severity of the impact on someone’s everyday life. Social Anxiety Disorder can impair someone’s ability to interact with others and can cause feelings of fear and panic. This type of anxiety disorder can create an overwhelming sense of fear that others are judging you negatively and can result in panic attacks when faced with social situations.

I use Cognitive Behavioral Strategies, including Exposure Therapy, to help those suffering with Social Anxiety Disorder to overcome their fears, improve their interactions with others, and gain confidence in themselves.