OCD Therapy in Tampa, FL
Exposure and Response Prevention
It's time to break free from the cycle of distressing thoughts/compulsive behaviors and take back your life.
What is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a mental health disorder that involves a pattern of obsessions and compulsions. According to the International OCD Foundation, approximately 2 to 3 million adults in the United States have OCD. OCD can occur at any time in life, however it generally appears between ages 8-12 and late teens/early adulthood. Most people have intrusive thoughts or compulsions at some point in their life. The difference with OCD is that the obsessions and compulsions become highly distressing, can take up a significant time in your day, and can get in the way of daily functioning.
Obsessions
Obsessions can be defined as unwanted, intrusive thoughts, urges, or impulses. Obsessions are recurrent, distressing, and trigger intense anxiety.
​Some examples of obsessions:
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Fear of harming self or others
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Concern with getting sick or being contaminated
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Fear of not saying just the right thing
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Intrusive images
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Extreme concern with order or symmetry
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Intrusive sexual thoughts
Compulsions
Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts that an individual feels compelled to do in response to their obsessions or in accordance with a rigid set of rules.
Some examples of compulsions:
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Washing hands excessively in a certain way
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Checking compulsions (doors locked, oven off)
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Doing activities in multiples (e.g. doing a task four times because four is a “good” number)
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Avoiding situations that might trigger obsessions
Exposure and Response Prevention
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy specifically for OCD. It is recognized as the most evidence-based treatment for OCD. ERP involves exposing yourself to the feared thoughts, images, objects, or situations that make you anxious and trigger your obsession then choosing to not engage in the compulsion.
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When a person has OCD, it takes over the body’s alarm system. Instead of just alerting you to danger, OCD makes your alarm system go off to any trigger (no matter how small) as a terrifying, catastrophic threat. OCD tricks you into believing your compulsions will protect you from the threat. The more you give into the compulsions, the stronger OCD becomes, and that danger becomes reinforced. Not engaging in the compulsions makes OCD weaker, and you become stronger.
The idea of purposefully exposing yourself to things that make you anxious may sound scary or odd to you. If you have OCD, you have probably tried to confront your obsessions before, and you’ve seen your anxiety significantly increase. With ERP, you make the decision to confront your obsessions and not give in to the compulsions. When you stay committed to the exposure, you will feel a significant drop in your anxiety, and it will reinforce to your brain that there is no real danger.
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Hi, I'm Sasha
OCD Therapist in Tampa, FL
If you're struggling with OCD, therapy can provide you with the support and tools you need to manage it. As an experienced OCD therapist in Tampa, I will help you to face your fears and gain control of your life again. Together, we will work to challenge OCD, reduce anxiety, and help you feel more confident. OCD doesn't have to control your life anymore. You deserve to feel relief from all of this anxiety and stress.
