Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is often misunderstood, with the term ‘OCD’ often being used casually in everyday conversation to refer to someone who has a preference for neatness or who is particular about how things are done. For those living with OCD, the experience can be deeply distressing, shaming, and disruptive—fuelled by persistent, intrusive thoughts and the compulsive behaviours that follow. OCD can impact children as well as adults. Children may have trouble expressing their obsessions and it can follow that their compulsions are misinterpreted as quirks or misbehaviour.
At J&R Psychology, we support individuals across Perth and Australia-wide via telehealth, who are navigating OCD, helping them regain a sense of calm and control through evidence-based therapy.
What Is OCD?
OCD involves two key components:
- Obsessions: repetitive, unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images or urges that cause significant anxiety or distress. Most of the time, the person will realise that the thought isn’t logical. The obsessions get in the way of everyday functioning.
- Compulsions: repetitive behaviours or mental rituals performed in an attempt to neutralise or counteract the obsession. These compulsions can be very time consuming and get in the way of valued daily activities.
These cycles can take a toll on everyday life—impacting work, relationships, and general wellbeing. Importantly, OCD is not a personality trait or something people can simply “snap out of.” Although it’s a recognised mental health condition that can often be effectively treated.
Below are some examples of the varied OCD obsessions and compulsions.
1. Contamination OCD
- Obsessions: Fear of germs, illness, or contamination (e.g., from dirt, chemicals, bodily fluids, or people).
- Compulsions: Excessive handwashing, avoiding touching certain things, or cleaning objects repeatedly.
2. Checking OCD
- Obsessions: Fear of harm coming to themselves or others due to carelessness (e.g., “Did I turn off the stove?” or “What if I hurt someone?”).
- Compulsions: Repeatedly checking locks, appliances, or confirming tasks were done.
3. Symmetry and Ordering OCD
- Obsessions: Discomfort if things aren’t symmetrical, even, or in a specific order.
- Compulsions: Arranging objects, redoing actions until they feel “just right.”
4. Harm OCD
- Obsessions: Intrusive thoughts about accidentally or intentionally harming oneself or others.
- Compulsions: Seeking reassurance to check that no harm was caused, avoiding certain objects or situations, or mental rituals to neutralise thoughts.
5. Religious or Moral OCD (Scrupulosity)
- Obsessions: Fear of committing a sin, being immoral, or offending a deity.
- Compulsions: Excessive praying, confessing, or seeking reassurance about moral behaviour.
6. Forbidden or Taboo Thoughts
- · Obsessions: Intrusive thoughts about inappropriate or taboo topics (e.g., sexual, violent, or blasphemous thoughts).
- · Compulsions: Mental rituals, avoidance, or confession.
How Therapy Can Help
Evidence-based therapy approaches can produce strong improvement:
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), particularly Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), which helps individuals gradually face their fears without engaging in compulsive behaviour.
- Medication (prescribed by a GP or psychiatrist).
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to increase awareness and reduce reactivity to obsessive thoughts and compulstions.
Therapy creates a space to understand what’s driving the OCD, develop healthier coping mechanisms, and build confidence in facing daily challenges.
While the above treatments for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), are widely recognised for their effectiveness, about 30% of people continue to experience persistent symptoms. In these cases, adjunctive interventions like Imagery Rescripting (ImRs)show promise in enhancing treatment outcomes. Clinical researchers in Perth, WA (such as Dr Gayle Maloney), have been leading the charge in this research.
This work suggests that imagery rescripting can effectively reduce OCD symptoms by targeting unhelpful mental imagery and increasing understanding and coping with strong emotions.
If you or a loved one is experiencing signs of OCD, help is available, with registered clinical psychologists and GPs being a good first point of contact.
Read more here:
https://childmind.org/article/what-is-the-gold-standard-treatment-for-ocd
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/15346501221123797
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