Understanding How OCD Is Different From “Regular” Anxiety

According to the American Psychological Association, it takes an average of 13 years before a person with obsessive compulsive disorder receives the correct diagnosis. This is an alarming and heartbreaking statistic. Some people spend years in therapy before their symptoms are properly understood and treated. How is OCD different from generalized anxiety?

Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by:

-Excessive worrying

-Difficulty concentrating

-Persistent restlessness

-Irritability

-Fatigue

-Muscle tension

-Sleep disturbance

 Obsessive compulsive disorder is characterized by:

-Obsessions: recurrent and persistent thoughts, urges, or images that are intrusive and unwanted

-Compulsions: repetitive behaviors or mental acts that a person feels driven to perform as a way to respond to obsessions

-Significant amount of time spent on obsessions and compulsions and/or cause clinically significant distress

OCD presents in so many different ways which can make it hard to detect. Most people are familiar with the contamination subtype of OCD – you’ve probably known someone who engages in compulsive and excessive handwashing. However, contamination OCD is only one of its many different subtypes.

 Other subtypes include:

 -Harm OCD

-Checking OCD

-Responsibility OCD

-“Just right” OCD

-Relationship OCD

-Sexuality OCD

-Scrupulosity OCD

-Obsessional OCD (“Pure O”)

 OCD often has an intense, invisible mental component that causes serious suffering. Supportive talk therapy is not sufficient in treating OCD; unfortunately, it is not possible to “reason” one’s way out of the trap of OCD. The gold standard treatment for OCD is Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). Using this modality, the therapist carefully guides the client to expose themselves to their obsessions while abstaining from compulsive behavior or rituals. This eventually weakens and breaks the cycle of OCD. If you believe you or a loved one is suffering from OCD, be sure to find a therapist properly trained in using ERP for treatment.