OCD

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: What is OCD?

GalleryJudy Gurfein Leave a comment

By Danielle Mendler

        Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a disorder where obsessions lead to compulsive behavior. These obsessions take the form of intrusive thoughts that cause discomfort, anxiety, and stress. The compulsions that follow these thoughts are actions that people struggling with OCD take to relieve those intense unpleasant feelings.

A notorious OCD stereotype is washing hands. Someone with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder may get an intrusive thought into their head along the lines of “You haven’t been careful enough today. You have to wash your hands again because you didn’t do it right the first time. If you don’t you will get everyone you love sick because YOU weren’t careful.” These thoughts consume those with OCD and the victim will believe everything this voice is telling them. Therefore, to stop the anxiety and guilt, they will wash their hands over and over again until it feels right. This will repeat multiple times a day causing extreme stress on this person and getting in the way of their daily routine.

            However, OCD isn’t always about staying clean or being organized. These obsessions can take the form of anything. This disorder attacks what the victim cares about most. An example is Scrupulosity. Scrupulosity is when people have intense OCD attacks on their religion and morals. This will happen when a person is extremely invested in their faith. The disorder overtakes what they enjoy and causes stress and chaos to it, making them feel like they will never be kind enough or religious enough. Some OCD takes the form of more irrational thoughts and actions that don’t always make sense to everyone else except them. People will believe that if they don’t knock on the floor four times, somebody they love will get hurt, just because their brain is telling them that. This obsessive thought causes enough internal conflict to result in the victim committing the compulsion of hitting the floor. It may seem harmless but these thoughts and actions over take people lives.

            Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can create many obstacles in daily life. People with OCD have trouble showing up on time to school or work, because they compulsions made them late. They can be under a constant state of stress and can have panic attacks over triggering words/actions that may not have significance to anyone else. If their compulsive actions include any physical activity (scratching, washing, etc.) it can cause bodily harm.

            Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a very serious mental health crisis that affects people daily. If you or someone you know is struggling with OCD or any other stress please contact Arista Counseling and Psychological Services at 201-368-3700.

OCD Rumination vs. Problem Solving: Help Quiet Your Mind

GalleryJudy Gurfein Leave a comment

OCD Rumination vs. Problem Solving:  Help Quiet Your Mind

By: Katerina Kostadimas

What is Rumination?

Rumination is a common symptom of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). It refers to the repetitive, excessive, and intrusive thoughts about a specific issue, question, or event. These thoughts can often feel uncomfortable and can involve:

–Overanalyzing past actions or decisions.

–Trying to “solve” unanswerable questions (e.g. moral, existential, or religious dilemmas).

–Seeking certainty about a fear or doubt related to an obsession.

Unlike productive problem-solving, rumination is circular and unhelpful- it doesn’t lead to resolution but instead amplifies distress and reinforces the OCD cycle.

Why do we ruminate?

Rumination is a compulsive response to reduce anxiety or gain assurance about intrusive thoughts or fears. Some reasons include:

  • Seeking Control: This is an attempt to rationalize or figure out answers to uncertain or distressing thoughts.
  • Fear of consequences: People ruminate to ensure they aren’t missing something important or to avoid perceived risks.
  • Perfectionism: A desire to think things through “perfectly” before making a decision or taking action.

However, rumination often worsens anxiety instead of resolving it, making you feel trapped in a cycle of obsession and compulsion.

What to do if you start ruminating?

  1. Recognize and Label the Rumination

– Acknowledge when you’re ruminating and remind yourself, “this is rumination, not helpful problem-solving.”

2. Avoid Trying to “Solve” the Thought

-Accept that there is an unknown problem and make a conscious effort to not engage in these types of thoughts.

3. Shift Your Focus to the Present

–Engage in grounding techniques (e.g. mindfulness or sensory awareness).

–Focus on your current environment rather than the thought.

4. Engage in an Activity

-Distract yourself with meaningful or enjoyable activities that redirect your attention and energy.

5. Seek Professional Help

–A trained and licensed mental health professional can provide tools to break the rumination cycle and address underlying OCD patterns.

If you or someone you know is struggling with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and symptoms such as rumination, please contact our psychotherapy offices in New York or New Jersey to talk to one of our licensed professional psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, or psychotherapists at Arista Counseling and Psychotherapy. Contact our Paramus, NJ or Manhattan, NY offices respectively, at (201) – 368-3700 or (212)-722-1920 to set up an appointment. For more information, please visit https://www.counselingpsychotherapynjny.com/

References:

Lcpc, D. S., & Staff, O. (2023, August 15). Rumination. The OCD & Anxiety Center. https://theocdandanxietycenter.com/rumination/

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: OCD

GalleryJudy Gurfein Leave a comment

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: OCD

By: Isabella Favuzza

Many feel overwhelmed with anxiety or stress regarding weight, relationships, family, work, school, etc. However, have you ever counted, organized, or cleaned to cope with these unwanted feelings of stress or anxiety? Perfectionist coping mechanisms are a symptom of OCD, also known as obsessive-compulsive disorder. OCD entails a frequent pattern of unwanted thoughts or fears known as obsessions to combat feelings of stress. Said obsessions commonly inhibit individuals from partaking in daily activities due to inevitable disturbances and distress. Those struggling with OCD feel compelled to soothe urges through ritual behaviors. OCD builds around a theme like the fear of germs, which leads an individual to consistently wash their bodies and disinfect their living quarters.

Those struggling with OCD face symptoms like fear of contamination, feelings of uncertainty, aggressive or horrific thoughts, unwanted ideals, the need for order or balance, intense stress, etc. These systems can restrict an individual from performing daily tasks in the workplace or even in the comfort of their own home. Psychiatric treatment can reduce OCD’s severe symptoms and allow individuals to reclaim their lives. Proper medication and other effective treatments can increase and regulate serotonin levels within the body, easing obsessions and unwanted thoughts. Ultimately, psychiatric treatment can significantly reduce unwanted obsessions and urges, enabling those struggling with OCD to reclaim their lives.

If you or someone you know is struggling with OCD, please contact our psychotherapy offices in New York or New Jersey to talk to one of our licensed professional psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, or psychotherapists at Arista Counseling & Psychotherapy. Contact our Paramus, NJ or Manhattan, NY offices respectively, at (201) 368-3700 or (212) 722-1920 to set up an appointment. For more information, please visit http://www.counselingpsychotherapynjny.com/

Source:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20354432

Deep Brain Stimulation and Electroconvulsive Therapy: What are they?

GalleryJudy Gurfein Leave a comment

Deep Brain Stimulation and Electroconvulsive Therapy: What are they?

By Emily Ferrer

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is a brain surgery involving the implantation of electrodes in certain areas of the brain to treat different movement disorders such as OCD, dystonia, Parkinson’s disease, and epilepsy as well as other disorders such as depression and drug addiction[1]. These electrodes produce electrical impulses to regulate certain brain functions[2] and are controlled by a pacemaker-like device. This pacemaker is placed in your chest with a wire that runs from the pacemaker to the electrodes that were inserted into your brain[3]. The parts of the brain that the electrodes are inserted into are specific to the patient and their specific symptoms. For example, for a patient who suffers from severe OCD the electrodes would be placed in an area of the brain called the ventral capsule/ventral striatum, which has been found to be very effective for patients suffering from treatment resistant OCD at about a 61.5% positive response rate[4].

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is a medical treatment usually preformed on patients who suffer from severe clinical depression and are treatment resistant to other options to help their condition[5]. The treatment involves small electric currents being passed externally through the patient’s skull between the voltage ranges of 180 to 460 volts. While there is still much controversy and incorrectly portrayed media about this procedure, it is significantly safer today than it was almost 100 years ago. The patient is put under general anesthesia at a hospital during the entire treatment and wakes up after not feeling anything from the procedure. The only thing patients feel after the completion of the treatment is an increase in positive mood. A study done in 2007 revealed that out of the patients who did and did not receive ECT for their treatment resistant depression, 71% of the participants in the experimental group, that received ECT,  found they had a positive response. This is significant when compared to the control group, who did not receive ECT, where only 28% of the participants found they had a positive response to just antidepressant medication[6].  ECT has gained a lot of popularity recently because of how quickly and effectively you feel the effects after a few treatments. The positive effects increase even more quickly when combined with psychotherapy in between the ECT treatments.

If you or someone you know is experiencing OCD or major depressive disorder and are interesting in pursuing these treatments, please contact our psychotherapy offices in New York or New Jersey to talk to one of our licensed professional psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, or psychotherapists at Arista Counseling & Psychotherapy. Contact our Paramus, NJ or Manhattan, NY offices respectively at (201) 368-3700 or (212) 722-1920 to set up an appointment. For more information, please visit https://www.counselingpsychotherapynjny.com

Sources:

[1] https://atm.amegroups.com/article/view/16268/html

[2] https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/deep-brain-stimulation/about/pac-20384562

[3] https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/deep-brain-stimulation/about/pac-20384562

[4] https://iocdf.org/expert-opinions/expert-opinion-dbs/#:~:text=Another%20important%20development%20for%20treatment,targeted%20areas%20of%20the%20brain.

[5] https://www.webmd.com/depression/electroconvulsive-therapy

[6] https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0447.1997.tb09926.x

The Less Talked-About Side of OCD: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

GalleryJudy Gurfein Leave a comment

By: Isabelle Siegel

When thinking about OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), most people instinctively think of those who care about cleanliness and tidiness. In fact, it is not uncommon to use the phrase “I’m so OCD” to imply that one agonizes over neatness and order. This perception of OCD is not without reason, as many people with OCD do obsess over germs, contamination, and order and engage in excessive hand washing, cleaning, and ordering.

However, it is important to note that this is not the reality for many other sufferers of OCD. OCD is a wide-ranging disorder involving the presence of obsessions—“repeated thoughts, urges, or mental images that cause anxiety”—and compulsions—repetitive behaviors performed to relieve the anxiety. These obsessions can take nearly any form, with contamination and order being only two of them. Some other common obsessions include thoughts about: losing control or going insane, harming oneself or others, unwanted sexual ideas or images, and/or religion. For example, it is well-documented that people with OCD may experience intrusive thoughts about homosexuality, pedophilia, violence and aggression, and/or suicide.

Many people with these less talked-about OCD “themes” take longer to realize that they have OCD because their symptoms are not in line with the stereotypical hand washing and tidying. These individuals often engage in different compulsive behaviors to alleviate anxiety. These behaviors may include mental compulsions such as repeated checking and rumination (that is, repetitively reviewing and evaluating one’s thoughts and their meanings). For example, the individual who obsesses about violence and aggression may repeatedly check that he/she has not unintentionally harmed those around him/her.

It is ultimately important to acknowledge this less talked-about side of OCD in order to encourage sufferers to acknowledge their symptoms and to guide them to get the treatment and help that they need. 

If you or a loved one appears to be suffering from OCD, the licensed psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, and psychotherapists at Arista Counseling & Psychotherapy can assist you. Contact our Paramus, NJ or Manhattan, NY offices respectively, at (201) 368-3700 or (212) 722-1920 to set up an appointment. For more information, visit http://www.counselingpsychotherapynjny.com/

Sources:
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/index.shtml
https://iocdf.org/about-ocd/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/overcoming-self-sabotage/201002/rumination-problem-solving-gone-wrong
Image Source:
https://www.helpguide.org/articles/anxiety/obssessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd.htm