| When a patient is diagnosed with OCD or | | | | their fears, the patient also learns how to manage |
| obsessive-compulsive disorder, the typical form of | | | | their unwanted thoughts or obsessions in order to |
| treatment involves a combination of antidepressant | | | | relieve their anxiety. |
| medications and psychological therapy. While there | | | | Cognitive Therapy for OCD |
| are many forms of psychological therapy, the one | | | | The cognitive therapy utilized for patients with |
| that has been found the most effective for the | | | | obsessive-compulsive disorder focuses on the |
| treatment of OCD is "CBT" or "cognitive behavioral | | | | obsessive thoughts that cause the individual to |
| therapy". | | | | engage in their compulsive behavior. The unrealistic or |
| Cognitive behavioral therapy is centered upon the | | | | irrational thoughts are challenged by having the |
| theory that our thoughts or perceptions control the | | | | patient weigh the percentages or the likelihood that |
| way we react or behave and not our environment, | | | | their fears could actually become a reality. |
| situations, or circumstances. Therefore, by changing | | | | Once the patient has learned to recognize their |
| the way we think we can also change the way in | | | | irrational thoughts, they are taught the skills to |
| which we respond to these situations. | | | | replace them with more healthy and positive |
| CBT - Exposure and Response Prevention | | | | thoughts and also methods of relaxation techniques |
| The exposure and response prevention method | | | | that can be used to calm themselves in certain |
| utilized in cognitive behavioral therapy is used to help | | | | situations that have previously triggered their anxiety. |
| the patient gain control over their compulsions by | | | | In most cases, patients with obsessive-compulsive |
| exposing them to their obsessions and then having | | | | disorder will begin to see an improvement after only |
| them refrain from following through on their | | | | a few sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy. |
| compulsive behavior. | | | | However, if you suffer form OCD you will want to |
| For instance, if an individual has the compulsion of | | | | ensure that you obtain a therapist that specializes in |
| having to wash there hands excessively they will be | | | | this type of therapy for the treatment of anxiety |
| asked to shake hands or touch an object such as | | | | disorders as not all therapists are trained or qualified |
| door knob and then refrain from washing their hands. | | | | in cognitive behavioral therapy. |
| This method has proven to be effective as the | | | | It has been found that it is not uncommon for many |
| compulsive urge tends to go away after a relatively | | | | individuals who have OCD to receive years of |
| short period of time on its own. | | | | therapy that is inadequate to treat their condition and |
| After awhile of utilizing this method of desensitization, | | | | has actually been known to exacerbate the |
| the patient begins to realize that they no longer have | | | | symptoms in some individuals with OCD. Therefore, it |
| to act on their compulsions in order to relieve their | | | | is essential if you are looking for a therapist to treat |
| anxiety. This type of cognitive behavioral therapy has | | | | your OCD that you research the therapist's |
| been effective in reducing and even eliminating some | | | | qualifications and inquire about their level of |
| of the compulsions in patients with OCD. By facing | | | | experience in the treatment of anxiety disorders. |