OCD

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, “Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a common, chronic and long-lasting disorder in which a person has uncontrollable, reoccurring thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions) that he or she feels the urge to repeat over and over.”

By analogy, it’s like having an annoying song stuck in your head, but instead of a song, it is thoughts that play on a continuous loop until you have to do something related to those thoughts (often repeatedly) in order to make them go away.For example, a person who suffers from OCD may have a strong sense of agitation over the way the dishes and silverware are arranged on the table, and won’t be able to move on until everything is exactly straight.

Christian OCD Counseling: A Story of Success

Chris’s Story, Part 1

Chris was known for his extreme perfectionism. His house was alwaystidy. His floors were so clean you could eat off of them. His friends often gave him a hard time for being so fastidious.One evening,Chris sat with his best friend, watching a television show.

“No way!Did you seewhat he just did?!Hey, Chris!”

Chrishadn’t heard. He was fixated on a DVD case in the rack on the shelf that was just a little farther out than the one next to it.

It’s okay,Chris thought to himself. Just forget about it. Focus on the show.Chris tried to watch the show, but his eyes kept flickering back to the uneven DVD case. He tapped his fingers, bounced his legs, and became increasingly agitated.

“Fix the DVD case, Chris,” said his friend, jokingly.

Immediately Chris jumped up and carefully slid the DVD case back until it was exactly right.

Maybe for you, the problem isn’t a DVD case. Maybe it’s the color pattern of the books on your shelf, a smudge on your counter, or the papers not lining up on your desk.If Chris’s situation resonates with you at all, then you may be suffering from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

Some people with OCD are quite functional but know that their behavior is neither normal nor healthy.But for others, trying to live with OCD can be a real problem, since the obsessive thoughts can be so extreme that they hinder their capacity to live a full and productive life.Spokane Christian Counseling helps those suffering from OCD to regain control of their lives.

What OCD looks like:

Obsessions: Obsessions can loosely be defined as any uncontrollable, repeated, unwanted thoughts, ideas, or impulses. The focus of the obsession can crowd out normal thoughts and will often bring on crippling anxiety or fear.

The obsession can be about anything that causes disproportionate worry, such as:

• A compulsion to do things perfectly.
• Excessive fear of germs, getting dirty, or becoming sick.
• Preoccupation with and anxiety over others’ real or imagined opinions and motives.
• Fear of doing harm to yourself or to others.
• Obsessive introspection on things like relationship issues.

Compulsions: Compulsions are the behaviors that result from trying to control the obsessions. Often these actions are ritualistic, while at other times they are complex and changing.

Examples of compulsive behaviors include (but are by no means limited to):

• Excessive washing or checking that something has been done correctly.
• Counting, often while performing a related action.
• Frequently moving or organizing items to keep them in perfect order.
• Hoarding

The degree of OCD can vary widely. Some people exhibit minor signs, such as a need to straighten every picture in a room, or obsessing over small things. Others can be quite severe and hinder the person’s ability to function in society. Regardless of whether you believe your OCD symptoms to be minor or extreme, if they stand in the way of you living a full life or produce anxiety and stress, then you should consider Christian counseling for OCD.

No one knows exactly what causes Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Some studies hint that there may be some sort of causal link to problems with how the brain sends and receives information. Other studies suggest that serotonin deficiencies may also bring on OCD symptoms, and still other experts believe that illnesses such as strep throat or scarlet fever can produce a sudden onset of OCD or aggravate the symptoms in some children.

There is still a lot to be learned about OCD, but fortunately, there is help available right now. Through Christian counseling for OCD, we show those who suffer from OCD that they are not alone and that there is hope. Through commitment and faith, you can take back your life from OCD.

How Do I Know if I Have OCD?

If you struggle with OCD, it may seem like you suffer alone.The truth is, however, that as of 2015, approximately 1 out of every 40 adults and 1 out of every 100 children suffer from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

Any diagnosis of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder will be based on an evaluation of your symptoms, medical history, and possibly a physical exam and mental health assessment.When considering whether to seek help for yourself or a loved one, ask the following questions:

• Do you have constant thoughts that create lingering anxiety?
• Do you wash your hands frequently or keep things ordered in a very particular way?
• Do you excessively check or count things?
• Do you feel you have obsessions that are “in your head” and don’t make sense?

Unfortunately, many people wrestle with OCD for years or even their whole lives and never seek help out of a sense of embarrassment or fear.

Chris’s Story Part 2

Chris’s obsessive need for control was tough to deal with. Some days he spent hours cleaning his house, grooming, and organizing everything in sight.Though it seemed harmless, his obsessions often prevented him from really living.

Whatever his excuse, whether because he wanted a clean house, or because he just didn’t have time for it, Chris was missing out on life.He especially struggled with relationships because it was frankly embarrassing to try to explain his OCD behavior to other people, who often found him hard to relate to.

Chris grew tired of the isolation and chose to get help.He hoped Christian counseling for OCD would help him overcome the overwhelming need for order and provide him with the tools to conquer the nagging anxiety.

Christian counseling for OCD offers hope to those who are oppressed by Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. If you or a loved one struggles with OCD, it is time to take your life back. Spokane Christian Counseling provides powerful tools for managing your symptoms.

It is a real challenge to live with OCD. Our team of compassionate Christian counselors is ready to help you gain control of your life.

Here are a few of the many reasons to choose Spokane Christian Counseling:

• Trusted experience– Spokane Christian Counseling provides expert Christian counseling services for people in Spokane and the surrounding areas.
• Safety and support – We want all OCD sufferers to feel as secure as possible. We offer compassionate, confidential support while helping you overcome your OCD symptoms at your own pace.
• Christian values – Our faith-based approach to counseling is one of the central things that sets Spokane Christian Counseling apart from other counseling services. We believe Christ heals and so we welcome prayer and Biblical wisdom in whatever measure you are comfortable with.

How Christian Counseling for OCD Can Help You

Our main goal at Spokane Christian Counseling is to assist people in moving from the darkness of mental illness toward the light of Christ. Through faith in Jesus, we are promised freedom from bondage, and that includes freedom for those who suffer from OCD.

The benefits of Christian counseling for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder include:

• Helping you to better understand your obsessive-compulsive behavior.
• Offering a safe placeto examine your thoughts and emotions.
• Finding ways to manage your OCD behavior so that you are free to live life.
• Learning how to discuss OCD with loved ones, as well as providing wisdom to identifyhow your symptoms are negatively impacting your relationships.
• Providing you with hope, inner peace, and healing through faith in Christ.

Chris’s Story, Part 3

Christian counseling for OCD was often difficult, but gradually, Chris learned to loosen his grip on the constant need for control, and he found it absolutely liberating! He began to spend more time on his hobbies and with friends, and he even began to date.

Through his counseling,Chris discovered that some of his symptoms stemmed from a certain childhood trauma which had left him feeling afraid and out of control. In order to adjust, Chris started exercising control over his environment in the only ways he knew how. His counselor helped him to take control of his obsessions and compulsions so that for the first time he could really live and let others into his world without being afraid.

The battle to control OCD can be difficult, but with commitment and faith, you can learn to find mental peace and begin to focus on living the life that you want to live.

Counseling Approaches for OCD

It should go without saying that Christian counseling for OCD aims to reduce the symptoms of OCD and prevent them from affecting your life and your relationships with God and others.It may sometimes occur that OCD sufferers also suffer from other conditions, such as depression and addiction.In such situations, the counselor will help them deal with these issues as well.

The most effective and commonly used form of therapy among Christian OCD counselors is a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy referred to as exposure and response prevention, which includes:

• Identifying your obsessions and rituals (compulsions) as well as the things you avoid.
• Rating from highest to lowest the amount of anxiety caused by each obsession.
• Repeated exposure to the obsession while preventing the compulsive act, starting with those that rate lowest on the anxiety scale.
• In a measured way, working toward exposing the obsessions that cause more anxiety.
• Eliminating in correct beliefs that bring on OCD symptoms.

Christian counseling for OCD is not necessarily an easy path, but our counselors are here to help you down the journey to healing through results-driven Christian counseling and faith in Christ. Do you want to end the grip that OCD has on your life?If so, we are ready to help.

OCD Counseling for Children

Children’s Christian OCD counseling is a lot like OCD counseling for adults, both making use of cognitive-behavioral therapy, and having similar steps to those listed above. Children also respond well to a technique called “cognitive restructuring,” which makes use of short stories about the child’s obsession in order to help reduce the frequency and degree of their OCD behavior.

Though they are similar, children and teens with OCD present a number of different challenges than do adults with OCD. Small children are often unable to fully express their symptoms and do not have the means to face their irrational fears and compulsive behaviors. They may not even recognize that their fears are unrealistic or exaggerated. Older children and teens, on the other hand, might avoid discussing their symptoms out of a sense of shame or embarrassment. Because of this, it’s important to find a counselor who can sensitively approach Christian OCD counseling for both children and adolescents.

We know how hard it can be for you and your family if your child or teen suffers from OCD. Spokane Christian Counseling has experienced counselors who specialize in Christian OCD counseling for children and teens.

Why is OCD considered an anxiety disorder?

OCD-related obsessions actually cause anxiety, which results in a need to carry out compulsions in order to gain some measure of relief (albeit temporary).

Can OCD be cured?

Typically not, but with treatment it can be controlled.

If it can’t be cured, then what is the prognosis if it is treated?

The prognosis is very good, assuming that the patient is committed to recovery. Nearly 80% of those suffering from OCD see great improvement with the proper treatment.

Can OCD be treated with medication?

Some patients are able to overcome their OCD solely through counseling, while others may be prescribed medicine for a time to lessen their symptoms and help them comply with the treatment.

Contact us today to learn more about Christian counseling for OCD

If you suffer from OCD, then the time to take action is now. For more information or to schedule your risk-free initial session, give us a call at (509) 209-8961 or contact us via email. We also encourage you to browse our counselor profiles to find the right Christian counselor for you.