by Tom Zondman, M.A.

OCD: What is it? OCD is defined by the APA (American Psychological Association) as: "A mental disorder characterized by obsessions--recurrent thoughts, images, or impulses that recur or persist despite efforts to suppress them--and compulsions--repetitive, purposeful acts performed according to certain rules or in a ritualized manner." More information on the topic is available at their website (www.APA.org).

Although it is not commonly known, OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) is a huge problem in the U.S. Around 1 in 50 adults in the U.S. has OCD. OCD symptoms can be so severe, a person does not have the ability to carry out day to day functions. A common example of the disorder is excessive handwashing (sometimes to the point where the hands will bleed), which is the result of an irrational fear of germs. And there are many others as well. OCD is an Anxiety disorder and there are many treatments available to remedy the condition. So, for those experiencing this debilitating condition, there is hope!

Treatments for OCD: The most common therapies include Cognitive Therapy, Medications, or both. Cognitive therapies work specifically at changing the persons thoughts about the obsessive behavior. It can help the person identify and gain control over the thinking patterns associated with the repetitive behavior. In essence, the person can "think" their way out of the behavior before it begins. Some Cognitive therapy techniques are "Thought Stopping" and "Thought Switching."

Medications can be helpful in alleviating some of the anxiety associated with OCD. There are many different types of medications to alleviate the effects of OCD. The most common are anti-depressants such as Zoloft, Paxil, or Prozac. Others include Xanax (anti-anxiety) and Luvox.

Summary: Many professionals in the Counseling field believe that a combination of both Cognitive and Medication therapies is the most comprehensive approach. However, individuals with OCD have benefited from each therapy independently as well. There is a wealth of information available about OCD in books and the internet. So if you suffer from OCD, please do yourself a favor and do the research to find the best treatment for you!

About the Author Tom Zondman has a M.A. in Clinical Counseling and has been practicing for over 15 years. For more information on OCD, and a link to an comprehensive Handbook to treat the disorder, see the website at http://beatyourocd.blogspot.com