Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health disorder that affects people of all ages and walks of life, and occurs when a person gets caught in a cycle of obsessions and compulsions.
Obsessions are thoughts, images or impulses that occur over and over again and feel outside of the person’s control. In the context of OCD, obsessions are time consuming and get in the way of important activities the person values. Compulsions are the second part of obsessive compulsive disorder. These are repetitive behaviors or thoughts that a person uses with the intention of neutralizing, counteracting or making their obsessions go away.
One of the most effective treatments for OCD is Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT). CBT focuses on challenging and changing cognitive distortions and behaviors, improving emotional regulation, and the development of personal coping strategies that target solving current problems.