Do people joke that you got a hint of obsessive compulsive disorder?

There’s nothing funny about OCD and if you know someone with it you know that. It’s paralyzing, it often leads to alcohol and drug use and it’s very painful.

Like most mental illnesses you have to meet a certain criteria to fit the actual diagnosis. That doesn’t mean you can’t have significant symptoms of OCD without actually having the official diagnosis.

So what’s the most effective way to treat OCD?

Today’s medication is a great help.

The other effective technique is called extinguishing. Extinguishing involves exposing the person to whatever causes the OCD and not letting them perform the behavior or ritual that gives them perceived relief.

So, if it’s handwashing, you don’t let the person wash their hands. If it’s checking on locks, you don’t let them do it, You teach them to relax in place of the ritual.

Does it work? Not quickly and not easily, but it does over time.

It involves dealing with a lot of discomfort.

Which it seems we can’t get around when it comes to growth.