Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Hi Tangerine

Although OCD is usually one of the more complex things to treat, here's a quick general rundown of what I would do (bearing in mind that circumstances alter cases quite drastically!)

1) Check basic needs. I would say there are always big holes, as a causal factor for OCD, or caused by. Put in place plan to improve.

2) Use the Rewind technique to take the anxiety out of the imagination of what will happen if the obsession is not carried out. This is essential as a first step because this will have been repeated so often that the sufferer may well have become traumatised through the use of their imagination. Without this, you are fighting against high levels of anxiety all the way through.

3) Teach relaxation techniques for use when anxiety goes up

4) If extensive, choose the behaviours that can be reduced first. Perhaps suggest behavioural interventions to carry out when the urge to do the OCD pattern comes on

5) Check thinking styles and see what can be done to reframe damaging beliefs / teach more healthy styles.

Have I missed any folks?

Roger

Pretty comprehensive, Rog!

Kathleen

Thanks Roger,

Regarding what you were saying about checking that their "basic needs" are being meet. What do you think is the reason for their basic needs not getting meet. Is it that they are so focused on their thoughts and/or actions brought on by the OCD that they are not able to get all their basic needs meet or is it something else.

Another thing I was interested in finding out was in reference to - "If extencive, choose behaviour that can be reduced first". Would you ask the person which behaviour they would like to work on first, or do you choose which you believe would be the easiest for them to have success over.

"Perhaps suggest behavioural interventions to carry out when the urge to do the OCD pattern comes on". Could you give me some examples of what type of intervention the person could carry out when they have the urge to do the OCD pattern?

Thanks,
Tangerine.

What do you think is the reason for their basic needs not getting meet.

It could be anything Tangerine - I have seen it due to overwork, isolation, the OCD itself.

Would you ask the person which behaviour they would like to work on first, or do you choose which you believe would be the easiest for them to have success over.

I would work with them to find out. It can be useful to make a list of the behaviours and then order them by which they think would be the easiest to stop.

examples of what type of intervention the person could carry out when they have the urge to do the OCD pattern?

Well it depends on the individual, but I have had them listen to a 15 minute relaxation CD before. This breaks the patters and lowers the arousal, so removing the urge to do the behaviour.

Thanks Roger,
Regarding the use of a "relaxation CD" I can see how this technique would be usefull, in that the person would be able to have a break from their thoughts by focusing on the relaxation CD.
Tangerine

Exactly right, plus it changes their physiology so that afterwards they are no longer anxious, which is likely to last for a few hours at least, even in severe cases and so give them a break from the behaviours.

Help I can stop responding to these posts