How to Overcome OCD Intrusive Thoughts

A person with checking behaviors may repeatedly examine alarm systems, locks and stovetops. Or they may believe something is medically wrong with them even when doctors don’t find any evidence.

A person concerned with contamination may fear anything that makes them feel dirty. They may clean themselves or areas of their home again and again. This can also develop into concerns about mental contamination (when someone feels like they have been stepped on or treated like dirt).

A person bothered by anything looking untidy will spend a lot of time rearranging and ordering things. They may only feel like things are right when every label in their kitchen is lined up a certain way. They may need to keep books and papers straightened at all times.

Rumination is a mental behavior involving repeated thought patterns. Rather than manipulating physical objects, a person tracks over the same thought pattern again and again. This behavior can be particularly upsetting when the thoughts themselves are about violence, trauma or sex.

Caffeine can amplify anxiety symptoms, so it helps to avoid it. Your mind can seem scattered, your muscles may feel tense and you may have difficulty sleeping.

drinking alcohol can feel relaxing temporarily, but when substances leave your system, the body’s adjustment can leave you feeling even more anxious and jittery. Nicotine can have a similar impact. Substance abuse can become an additional problem that worsens OCD symptoms. Continue reading at OCD and Substance Abuse →

Sleep is an essential part of everyone’s self-care routine, and it’s especially true for people with mental health disorders. Lack of sleep can leave you feeling overwhelmed, more emotional, and less tolerant of stress.

Physical activity is one of the more effective ways to keep anxiety under control. It promotes the release of “feel good” hormones through your body, releases tension in the muscles, and gives you a natural energy boost. When done regularly, exercise keeps your overall anxiety levels more manageable. Even something as simple as a regular walk can give you these benefits.

Obsessions and compulsions are common human experiences. Most people only struggle with intense thoughts and behaviors once in a while. As long as a person can cope with them and the disruption is minor, obsessions and compulsions do not turn into a long-term problem. When these two components seriously disrupt a person’s life, OCD may be a possibility. Many cases of OCD go unseen, with less than 3% of the population getting a diagnosis and even fewer seeking treatment.

Many people with OCD understand that their thoughts and behaviors are out of the norm. Just knowing this can be stressful, feeling tormented by thoughts they cannot control. Symptom awareness is not enough for effective management. Without treatment, people with OCD live through many moments of embarrassment, isolation and shame. They often have a sense of hopelessness about their situation. Even knowing that their thoughts are irrational, they may have difficulty discarding them. For example, they may understand that rechecking the fire alarm one more time won’t make any difference. But their fears about their house burning down may be so convincing that they can’t ignore the urge to check again.

Yes. OCD is treatable with medication, cognitive behavioral therapy, and many self-care practices. OCD is not curable, but it can be well-managed with a good treatment plan.

In rare situations, a streptococcal infection can trigger an autoimmune response in children and young adults that mimics the symptoms of OCD. This syndrome is called PANDAS, Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections. Inflammation temporarily targets the area of the brain that can produce these symptoms. This condition is being studied, and little is currently known about it.

Thoughts of aggression and violence are alarming, but people with OCD typically do not wish to act out on them.