Resources for OCD

Understanding OCD

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a mental health disorder characterized by recurring, unwanted, and intrusive thoughts, images, or urges (obsessions) that cause significant anxiety and distress. To alleviate this anxiety, individuals with OCD engage in repetitive, ritualistic behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) aimed at neutralizing the obsession or preventing some feared outcome.

  • 1. Contamination and cleaning OCD: This subtype involves obsessive fears of contamination and illness.

    2. Checking OCD: This subtype involves obsessive fears of negligence causing harm, such as leaving the stove on, resulting in compulsive checking.

    3. Symmetry and order OCD: This subtype involves an obsessive need for symmetry, exactness, and order.

    4. Harm OCD: This subtype involves intrusive, violent, or aggressive thoughts and fears of causing harm to oneself or others.

    5. Sexual orientation OCD: This subtype involves intrusive, unwanted thoughts or fears related to one's sexual orientation.

    6. Religious OCD: This subtype involves intrusive, unwanted thoughts or fears related to religion, such as fear of blasphemy or sin.

    7. Pedophilic OCD: This subtype involves intrusive, unwanted, and persistent thoughts, images, or impulses related to the fear of being or becoming a pedophile or committing sexual abuse against a child. It's essential to note that having unwanted, intrusive thoughts related to harming children does not mean that someone is a pedophile or is likely to act on those thoughts. POCD is a type of OCD and is not related to an individual's sexual orientation or interests.

    This is not a comprehensive list. Common compulsions include physical checking, avoidance, mental review, and reassurance-seeking. Compulsions are performed in response to the anxiety and discomfort that accompanies unwanted obsessional content. It is common for individuals with OCD to experience feelings of shame, guilt, or embarrassment related to their obsessions and compulsions.

    OCD is estimated to affect approximately 1-2% of the general population worldwide, making it a relatively common mental health disorder. OCD affects people of all ages, genders, and ethnicities, and the onset typically occurs in late adolescence or early adulthood.

    With proper diagnosis and treatment, most people with OCD can manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life. Check out the amazing community found through the International OCD Foundation here.

Treatment for OCD

There are several evidence-based treatments for OCD, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and medication.

  • CBT is the most effective treatment for OCD and involves a structured and systematic approach to address the obsessions and compulsions that are causing distress. CBT for OCD typically includes exposure and response prevention (ERP), a form of therapy that involves gradually exposing the individual to their obsessive thoughts or situations that trigger their compulsions while preventing them from performing their compulsive behaviors. Over time, this can help to reduce the intensity and frequency of obsessions and compulsions.

  • Antidepressant medications, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), have been shown to be effective in reducing OCD symptoms. SSRIs work by increasing the availability of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates mood and anxiety, in the brain.

    Combining medication and therapy may be particularly effective in treating OCD, and a mental health professional along with a medical provider can help determine the best treatment approach for each individual.

  • ICBT focuses on challenging the reasoning process that underlies OCD symptoms.

    From the website: According to this approach, obsessional inferences of doubt arise as the result of a reasoning narrative characterized by an over-reliance on the imagination and a distrust of the senses. In particular, the reasoning distortions contained in obsessional narratives often camouflage the fact that there is no real basis in reality for obsessional doubt leading to a confusion between reality and imagination. As a result, obsessions are able to persist and can never be resolved with compulsions…ICBT is a promising alternative treatment option for treatment for those who have been unable to benefit from other treatments.(Learn more about ICBT here.)

  • ACT aims to help individuals develop psychological flexibility, which involves learning to accept and tolerate uncomfortable thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations while pursuing valued goals and activities.

    In the context of OCD, ACT can help individuals to develop a different relationship with their intrusive thoughts and compulsions, rather than trying to eliminate them entirely. The therapy involves teaching individuals to recognize the ways in which they may be avoiding or suppressing their thoughts and feelings, and to learn new skills and strategies to manage them more effectively.

    ACT uses a range of techniques, such as mindfulness, acceptance, values clarification, and committed action, to help individuals with OCD become more accepting of their experiences and more willing to engage in activities that are meaningful to them.

Podcasts

Educational podcasts are a great way to reduce stigma and isolation for those who experience OCD and related Anxiety Disorders and their loved ones. Here are a few of our favorites:

  • Your Anxiety Toolkit Podcast delivers effective, compassionate, & science-based tools for anyone with Anxiety, OCD, Panic, and Depression.

  • The OCD Stories podcast is a show that aims to offer hope and inspiration. Host Stuart Ralph interviews some of the best minds in OCD treatment and recovery to share their advice, to both entertain and educate listeners towards a healthier life. The show was created in 2015. Since that time is has been downloaded over 5 million times globally.

  • Welcome to FearCast Podcast. This is a home for people suffering with OCD and anxiety spectrum disorders and want to find a way to live better, fuller, and deeper. We can not snap our fingers to get rid of our fear and anxiety, but we can learn better ways to live along with our fear. If you're ready, let's do this together.

  • OCD Family Podcast. You are not alone. We are better together. And that is why I am here to create a community of support for family members, spouses, partners, parents, adult children and chosen family of OCD Sufferers and their community.

You may find these videos helpful and relevant if…

  • You are a mental health professional who works with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (aka: LDS or Mormon faith tradition) and would like to create therapeutic trust through a deeper understanding of LDS culture and doctrine.

  • You are a member of the LDS faith, currently serving in a leadership position, and would like to provide treatment-aligned spiritual support to members experiencing OCD.

  • You are a member of the LDS faith who is experiencing OCD and need a little encouragement as you pursue treatment.

  • You heart bloopers and need a good laugh!

For LDS Leadership

For Clinicians Treating LDS Clients

For LDS Members Experiencing OCD

Bloopers!

My Personal Mantra for Hard Days:

None of this is a surprise to God! It may be a surprise to you, but He’s known all along and you are absolutely loved by Him.

- Kelli

Additional Resources

  • Listen, Learn & Love Podcast hosted by Richard Ostler

    Description: Welcome to our podcast that covers a range of Latter-day Saint topics. The podcast [episodes] are organized into two general sections: LGBTQ & Non-LGBTQ.

    Under the Non-LGBTQ section you will find a subtopic that includes OCD. You will find many episodes that that feature interviews with members of the LDS faith who experience OCD as well as LDS mental health professionals who treat OCD and related anxiety disorders.

  • The OCD Mormon by Kari Ferguson.

    Description: Mental illness is not a sin. Getting help shows courage, not weakness. These are just a couple of messages Kari Ferguson has shared on her popular blog. After years of suffering herself, she’s teaching others to combat the stigmas surrounding mental illness, invite and open gospel dialogue, and keep fighting. Learn how to help yourself and those you love return to faith, service, and advocacy in this much-needed book.

  • Imperfectly Good: Navigating Religious and Moral Anxiety to Release Fear and Find Peace by Annabella Hagen

    Description: Break free from the doubt and depression caused by moral and religious anxiety! There’s help and there’s hope.

    In Imperfectly Good, you’ll find a step-by-step guide to help you find relief and happiness despite religious or moral OCD.

    Through sound, research-based principles and practices, as well as real-life accounts of those struggling with scrupulosity OCD, you’ll learn how to progress from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset so you can become who you want to be.

    The practices found in this book will help you:

    • Gain confidence in who you are

    • Navigate life with mental and emotional flexibility

    • Better connect with the present despite overwhelming anxiety

    • Embrace vitality and peace instead of worry and uncertainty

    When you implement these skills, you’ll more easily navigate the turbulent waters of religious or moral OCD and successfully build long-term meaning in your life.

    Don’t suffer needlessly. Open Imperfectly Good and start creating the life you want right now!

  • IOCDF Webpage for Latter-Day Saints

    Introduction from the IOCDF: Navigating OCD in the religious and spiritual context can often be difficult and overwhelming. However, faith, spirituality, and religious traditions matter – and they don’t have to be checked at the door in order to get effective treatment. In fact, their involvement is often a crucial component of success in learning how to live in freedom from OCD. Not only can an individual receive evidence-based treatment while upholding their faith/religious/spiritual traditions, but they can also integrate their treatment and traditions extensively. This resource center provides information and materials for navigating this unique landscape and offers tools for faith/spiritual leaders and mental health professionals to best support those impacted by OCD.