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My Life with OCD

OCD Center of Los Angeles June 24, 2013 6:44 am 18 Comments

    

The impact of OCD and related anxiety based disorders on the family is often overlooked.  In this multi-part series, we present first-hand accounts of the ongoing impact of OCD, BDD, and Bipolar Disorder on one man and his family, as told to Elizabeth Kassel, MSW, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles.

Life with OCD
Those suffering with OCD need
understanding and treatment

My name is Robert and I have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).  I am a thirty-four year old, single man and work as a personal fitness trainer. My story is not typical, but it is the only one I have . . .

I was four years old when I looked at a picture Bible and saw an image of Satan. My thought was, “Satan is cool!” He wore a red cape and was “ripped!”  My obsession was that, since I thought he was cool, I was evil and I would go to hell. I knew that evil people hurt others, and I was terrified of hurting someone. It never occurred to me to tell my parents. I figured all kids thought this way too, but the other kids just seemed to be “managing” it better than I was. They didn’t appear bothered by the eternal consequences of their actions like I was. They were talking back, swearing, being disrespectful and acting cocky, but weren’t worried about going to hell. I figured that thinking Satan was cool and that I was evil was “normal”, and that I just had to be more laid back and figure out how to worry less.

One day when I was fourteen, I had an intrusive thought that I wasn’t funny. I couldn’t shake it and kept a journal of funny quips so I could be “funny” in social situations. I tried to keep up the compulsion of memorizing stuff from the “funny book” so I wouldn’t be “slow”. I wanted to be quick witted, playful and charming.  The irony is people said I was funny – I just didn’t “feel” like I was.  I fought to I remember “my lines” to get rid of the anxiety. At about the same age, I had the obsession that my penis wasn’t the right size. I was pre-pubescent and a “late bloomer.” When in the locker room at school, I compared the boys’ penises to my dad’s penis and thought, ”Wow! They’re tiny!” I even asked my mom one day, “Does size matter?”

(more…)

Scrupulosity: Where OCD Meets Religion, Faith, and Belief

OCD Center of Los Angeles April 23, 2013 10:15 am 222 Comments

Many people mistakenly think of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) solely as a condition in which people wash their hands excessively or check door locks repeatedly.  There are actually many sub-types of OCD.  In this ongoing series, Kevin Foss, MFT of the OCD Center of Los Angeles discusses Scrupulosity, in which an individual’s OCD focuses on issues of religion, morals, and ethics. Part one of a four-part series.

Scrupulosity OCD
Those with Scrupulosity experience profound feelings of anxiety and guilt related to religion, morals, and ethics.

One of the first documented references to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) was in a 1691 sermon by Bishop John Moore of Norwich in which he discussed men and women who were overwhelmed with unwanted thoughts, and tormented by feelings of guilt and shame over what he described as “religious melancholy.” Priests had started to notice that some churchgoers were attending confession several times a day, and repeatedly confessing to the same sins and shortcomings that they feared would result in divine judgment and eternal damnation. Their penance and absolution would provide only a fleeting glimpse of peace, and then their fears would come roaring back.

In retrospect, we now know that this obsessive religious fervor is a manifestation of OCD known as Scrupulosity. People of various religions across the world are haunted by feelings of doubt, guilt, and anxiety that torment them by attacking that which they find most dear – their faith. Scrupulosity is a form of OCD in which the sufferer’s primary anxiety is the fear of being guilty of religious, moral, or ethical failure. Those afflicted with Scrupulosity fear that their effort to live according to their spiritual values not only isn’t good enough, but is in direct violation of God.

(more…)

Mindfulness for OCD and Anxiety

OCD Center of Los Angeles March 25, 2013 11:10 am 21 Comments


Choosing a Different Route on the Anxiety Highway

Mindfulness for OCD and Anxiety
Mindfulness can greatly enhance Cognitive Behavioral
Therapy (CBT) for the treatment of OCD and Anxiety.

“Mindfulness” seems to be everywhere these days. In the culture at large, mindfulness is becoming a common practice for many as a means to finding basic peace of mind. And in the field of mental health, mindfulness is quickly coming to be seen as a technique that can help relieve symptoms of OCD, anxiety, and other psychological conditions.

After reading the above paragraph, you may be thinking, “Sign me up!” After all, we live in an era of instant gratification, and most of us usually want a quick fix to our problems. But mindfulness is not something one masters overnight. It is a journey that requires effort, commitment, and dedication. While mindfulness may provide relatively rapid relief to one’s distress in certain situations, it is perhaps better conceptualized as a long-term shift in perspective that allows us to better manage the complexity of human psychological experience. Like learning a new language, mindfulness takes time and patience to master, and ongoing effort to remain fluent.

(more…)

Hoarding, Cluttering, and Compulsive Shopping: My Childhood Story

OCD Center of Los Angeles February 11, 2013 9:53 am 12 Comments



Hoarding affects the entire family.  Here is one woman’s story of her struggle as the daughter of multiple generations of hoarders. She has asked to remain anonymous. 

Hoarding affects the entire family
Hoarding and cluttering affect the entire family
(cc image courtesy of puuikibeach)

I am the daughter of a hoarder. I am also the granddaughter of a hoarder. Somewhere amidst the cluttered chaos, I was a child. Competing with nine cats, three large dogs and compulsive shopping sprees was nothing but ordinary. Our 1500 square foot condo was stuffed wall-to-wall with dusty antique furniture, balls of cat fur, and the potent smell of animal urine masked by dozens of cheap burning candles.  Taking in animals and acquiring things were my mother’s attempt to fill the absence of her husband and distract her from her long battle with cancer. She barricaded herself from the real world, consequently shutting down the needs of her only child and leaving no room for a relationship.

An unlikely suspect, my mother is an entrepreneur who dresses sharp, presents with confidence, and is admired and respected by her peers. What many people don’t know about the world of hoarding is that it is often a secret to outsiders. Although some hoarders can be detected by the clutter surrounding their homes, others present the exterior of their homes as well as they present themselves. From the outside world, we went unnoticed, further silencing my cry for help.

(more…)

OCD and Thought-Action Fusion

OCD Center of Los Angeles November 5, 2012 9:50 am 27 Comments

Thought-Action Fusion in OCD
Thought-Action-Fusion is a common
problem for many struggling with OCD.

Virtually everybody experiences unwanted thoughts from time to time, for we human beings are not always in charge of what we think.  But for sufferers of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (especially Pure Obsessional OCD), the problem is not just the presence of unwanted thoughts, but also the attention and meaning one gives to them.

OCD and Thought-Action Fusion

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) not only produces constant mental noise and endless worry, but also often includes a cognitive process known as thought-action-fusion.  The distorted thought at the heart of thought-action-fusion is the irrational assumption that just because a “bad” thought presents itself to your mind, then it is undeniably followed or accompanied by a specific “bad” action.    For some, this fusion is so strong that they believe that their thoughts actually cause actions to occur. Clients who suffer from thought-action fusion often report intense fear because of their belief that their thoughts will come true.  Thought-action fusion is particularly common in the Pure O variant that is colloquially known as Harm OCD. For example, a teenage girl may worry that if she has a thought of a home invasion happening to her family, then the break-in will undoubtedly occur.  Or a college student might fear that he will wander out of his dorm room and harm someone without knowing it.  If this student is struggling with Harm OCD complicated by thought-action fusion, he might be overcome with a debilitating belief that, because he thinks this thought, then he is almost certainly a sociopath and is likely to act on it. (more…)

OCD, Anxiety, and Resistance

OCD Center of Los Angeles October 3, 2012 10:59 am 21 Comments


The OCD Center of Los Angeles discusses resistance and certainty-seeking in OCD and related anxiety based conditions. Part one of a two-part series.

Resistance and acceptance in OCD and anxiety
Resisting our unwanted thoughts, feelings, and
sensations is a futile task that is doomed to failure.

When treating clients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and other anxiety based conditions, two of the most important topics we discuss are “resistance” and “certainty-seeking”.  People suffering with these conditions often have unpleasant and unwanted thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations, and resistance to these experiences is a normal, natural reaction.  Simply put, when faced with something uncomfortable or painful, we humans instinctively resist it, and quickly look for ways to reduce our discomfort through avoidance.  But unfortunately, while resistance may internally feel like the correct response to our uncomfortable thoughts, feelings and sensations, it actually serves to inflame them.

For most people, it seems counterintuitive to reduce resistance and allow uncertainty to remain in the face of these uncomfortable internal experiences.  Many are likely to think something along the lines of “I must find a way to keep this thought, feeling, or bodily sensation from happening again”.  But this philosophy of resistance in regards to our unwanted internal experiences will actually cause them to become more powerful.  As illogical as it may seem, oftentimes the best solution is to lower our resistance, surrender, and accept what is being offered.

(more…)

Harm OCD Treatment: Cognitive Restructuring

OCD Center of Los Angeles August 15, 2012 8:26 am 102 Comments


A discussion of the treatment of Harm OCD using Cognitive Restructuring.   Part three of a series.

Harm OCD treatment
For those with Harm OCD,
Cognitive Restructuring is a key part of treatment.

In our previous installment of this series, we looked at Mindfulness for the treatment of Harm OCD, and how a change in perspective towards unwanted thoughts and feelings can lead to a change in compulsive behaviors.  But as many sufferers well know, one’s response to intrusive harm thoughts is frequently automatic.  Those with Harm OCD have conditioned themselves to respond to their harm thoughts in a certain way, and very little thinking may go into it.

Mindfulness encourages us not to waste time and energy attending to thoughts and feelings with urgency when those thoughts and feelings could be simply observed and allowed without response.  This is not only difficult to do, but requires practice, training, and education that may not always be immediately practical early in treatment.  If we must attend to the content of our thoughts directly, we should attempt to do so with as little mental ritual as possible.  So we ask the question, “What is it that I am thinking about my thoughts that appears automatic, yet may be voluntary and may be pointing me in the wrong direction?

Cognitive Distortions Commonly Experienced in Harm OCD

The reason why a harm sufferer feels compelled to compulsively analyze, avoid, or otherwise over-respond to harm thoughts is because they are filtering these meaningless little ones and zeroes through distorted lenses that spit them out as unacceptable indictments.  These lenses are called cognitive distortions.  Here are some examples of common cognitive distortions experienced in Harm OCD: (more…)

OCD & Anxiety: Five Common Roadblocks to Treatment

OCD Center of Los Angeles July 12, 2012 10:57 am 26 Comments



Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the gold standard for the treatment of OCD and related anxiety based conditions.  But some simple mistakes can interfere with treatment.  Kimberley Quinlan, MFT, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles discusses five common roadblocks to effective treatment for OCD and anxiety.

CBT for OCD: Five Common Roadblocks
Avoid these five common roadblockswhen undergoing Cognitive BehavioralTherapy (CBT) for OCD and anxiety.

Research has consistently found that the most effective treatment for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and most other anxiety disorders is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).  The cognitive component of CBT involves investigating and challenging the individual’s irrational thoughts related to their fears.  These thoughts are described as “cognitive distortions”, and the process of challenging them is known as “cognitive restructuring”.  This process takes place during therapy sessions, and is also practiced by the client between sessions throughout the course of treatment.

The behavioral component of CBT is more time intensive, and requires the client to be gradually, purposefully and systematically exposed to the very thoughts and situations which generate their discomfort, and to do so without responding with either compulsive or avoidant behaviors.  This process is known as Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). (more…)

Harm OCD Treatment: Mindfulness Based CBT

OCD Center of Los Angeles May 3, 2012 10:41 am 100 Comments

    

The OCD Center of Los Angeles discusses treatment of Harm OCD using Mindfulness Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.   Part two of an ongoing series.

Mindfulness for Harm OCD
Mindfulness Based CBT is a key component of
successful treatment for Harm OCD.

In our previous installment of this series, we defined the symptoms of a sub-type of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) known as Harm OCD. The defining characteristics of Harm OCD are intrusive thoughts of a harming/violent nature (obsessions), and the behavioral response of engaging in physical and mental strategies (compulsions) in an effort to relieve the inherent discomfort one experiences when having these thoughts. In upcoming articles in this series, we will discuss each of the main elements of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) used to treat this form of OCD.

Psychoeducation and the Treatment of Harm OCD

The first step in treating Harm OCD is psychoeducation. Unfortunately, sufferers who are not already well-versed in OCD are likely to approach treatment with extreme apprehension and doubt. This is because the pain of being burdened with unwanted thoughts of causing harm has worn them down to a point that they may genuinely believe it’s possible that a therapist will take one look at them, smile, and call the men in white coats. So before any discussion of treatment can begin, a Harm OCD sufferer has to have a better understanding of the nature of the condition, and why some people are hyper-aware of these types of thoughts, while others appear not to be. (more…)

Dermatillomania / Skin Picking Disorder Treatment

OCD Center of Los Angeles April 10, 2012 6:39 am 164 Comments

    

Skin Picking Disorder (Dermatillomania)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the most effective treatment for Skin Picking Disorder (Dermatillomania)

In our previous article on Skin Picking Disorder (also known as Dermatillomania or Excoriation),  we wrote about a classification system for skin picking. Let’s review “The ABC’s of Skin Picking”:

An “A” is something that almost anyone would pick. This could be a piece of dry skin hanging off your arm, a pus-filled whitehead on your chin that pops at your mere touch, or a scab that’s barely hanging on which you can easily detach.

A “B” is a “bump”, pimple, scab, etc. that only a skin picker would pick, frequently causing it to bleed, ooze, scab, and possibly become infected. This in turn will cause two additional problems – it will cause the picker significant distress, and it will give him or her something new to pick at later. In our experience, clients with Dermatillomania classify at least 50% of their picking as “B’s”. (more…)
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  • Treatment of OCD and Anxiety: A Brief History
    A look at how the treatment of OCD and related anxiety disorders has changed over time, especially the development of CBT and mindfulness for OCD. […]
    3 Comments
  • Tiger Woods, Sex Addiction, and OCD – Part 2
    Sex addiction is misconstrued by many to be a type of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). This article reviews various factors relevant to determining what diagnosis might be more appropriate. Second of a two part series. […]
    4 Comments
  • Tiger Woods, Sex Addiction, and OCD
    Many people, including professional psychotherapists, incorrectly think of sex addiction as a type of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). This article reviews the essential differences between these two conditions and, how therapeutic strategies used for the treatment of OCD are unlikely to be successful when treating sex addiction. First of a two part series. […]
    18 Comments
  • Latisse and Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)
    The drug Latisse is prescribed to lengthen eyelashes, but it has significant, under-reported side effects. This raises two questions - is Latisse safe, and does its marketing exploit women's body image concerns? […]
    2 Comments
  • Proposed DSM-5 Changes for OCD and Anxiety Disorders
    The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has proposed significant revisions to its "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fourth Edition" (DSM-IV). Tom Corboy of the OCD Center of Los Angeles discusses changes planned for the new DSM-5, specifically those relevant to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and related anxiety-based conditions. […]
    7 Comments
  • Reassurance Seeking in OCD and Anxiety
    Those with OCD and other anxiety based conditions often seek reassurance that their unwanted thoughts and feelings are not a threat. The OCD Center of Los Angeles discusses the problem of using reassurance seeking as an anxiety management strategy. […]
    92 Comments
  • Phobia Treatment in Unconventional Settings
    Traditionally, phobias have been treated in a therapist's office. But effective help for phobias can now be found in some very unexpected places. […]
    No Comments
  • Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) and Cosmetic Surgery
    Many with Body Dysmorphic Disorder turn to cosmetic surgery in an attempt to alleviate their insecurities. Unfortunately, there are plenty of cosmetic surgeons who are more than willing to cash in on those with this serious psychiatric condition. […]
    No Comments
  • OCD & Anxiety: The Year 2009 in Review
    OCD and anxiety were in the news throughout 2009. Here are our votes for the top stories of the year about OCD and related anxiety based conditions. […]
    2 Comments
  • Bizarre, Disturbing, Weird, and Unwanted Thoughts in OCD
    Everybody has bizarre thoughts. But people with OCD respond differently to these thoughts. From the OCD Center of Los Angeles. […]
    26 Comments
  • Emetophobia treatment at the OCD Center of Los Angeles with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Emetophobia and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
    Emetophobia is the fear of vomit and/or vomiting. Tom Corboy, MFT, Executive Director of the OCD Center of Los Angeles, discusses Emetophobia and its treatment. […]
    85 Comments
  • OCD and Mental Checking
    People with OCD often struggle with 'mental compulsions'. The OCD Center of Los Angeles explores how to manage this sometimes baffling problem. […]
    186 Comments
  • Cyberchondria: Health Anxiety in the 21st Century
    The twin explosions of television and the internet have spawned a sharp increase in Hypochondria, and spawned a new mental health issue - 'Cyberchondria'. […]
    8 Comments
  • Is Compulsive Overeating OCD?
    A discussion of compulsive overeating (aka binge eating) and how it differs from OCD. From the OCD Center of Los Angeles. Serving clients internationally. […]
    No Comments
  • Cy Young, Zack Greinke, and Social Anxiety
    Zack Greinke has overcome his Social Anxiety to become a superstar in major league baseball. […]
    No Comments
  • Exposure Therapy for OCD and AnxietyExposure Therapy for OCD and Anxiety
    Exposure therapy for OCD and other anxiety conditions is discussed by Tom Corboy, MFT, of the OCD Center of Los Angeles. […]
    46 Comments
  • Social Anxiety Research
    Recent Social Anxiety research is discussed by Tom Corboy, MFT, executive director of the CD Center of Los Angeles. […]
    No Comments
  • OCD Awareness Week
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    No Comments
  • CBT and Evidence Based Psychotherapy
    Unfortunately, many psychotherapists dismiss evidence-based treatments such as CBT, instead choosing to do what feels comfortable for them. […]
    No Comments
  • OCD, Mental Health, and the National Health Care Debate
    A look at the national health care debate, especially as it pertains to OCD and related anxiety based conditions. […]
    No Comments
  • Childhood OCD, Strep Infections, and PANDAS
    There is a growing body of research that indicates strep infections are related to rapid-onset OCD in children. […]
    No Comments
  • OCD and the Swine Flu – Part 2
    Panic about the Swine Flu continues, despite facts that suggest there is no cause for increased concern. […]
    No Comments
  • 2009 Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation Conference
    A review of the 2009 Obsessive Compulsive Foundation conference. […]
    No Comments
  • New Trichotillomania Research
    A look at recent research related to Trichotillomania. From the OCD Center of Los Angeles. […]
    No Comments
  • Parenting a Child With OCD
    Parenting any child is a full-time job. But parenting a child with OCD can be particularly challenging. From the OCD Center of Los Angeles. […]
    No Comments
  • Social Anxiety in Baseball
    A look at the recent rash of pro baseball players struggling with Social Anxiety Disorder. […]
    No Comments
  • Michael Jackson and Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)
    A look at the sad tale of Michael Jackson and his mental health issues. […]
    No Comments
  • OCD and the Swine Flu
    The past few months have seen an avalanche of news stories on the Swine Flu, despite its relatively low impact in the US. […]
    No Comments
  • Meet the OCD Center of Los Angeles Staff
    Meet the OCD Center of Los Angeles Staff […]
    No Comments
  • Welcome to the OCD Center of Los Angeles Blog
    Welcome to the OCD Center of Los Angeles Blog […]
    No Comments

    

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