SOS Help For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
As an OCD patient, you are aware that what you are doing is not normal or acceptable; however, you find it impossible to stop or check your compulsive behavior.
In most cases, people with OCD find it difficult to make friends or even keep their jobs.
It has also been observed that left to itself Anxiety disorder seems to worsen over time.
For SOS help to counter OCD try using the 5-R approach, which consists of the following four steps: 1.
Recognize - pay close attention to your thoughts and identify those, which point you in the direction of compulsive behavior.
Weed these thoughts out by writing them down in a diary or notebook meant for this purpose.
2.
Reorganize - once the thoughts are in front of you in black-and-white, reorganize your thoughts to change the negative aspects into positive aspects.
For example, let us say you are thinking you would be contaminated if you touched the door of a taxi.
Change that fear into reassurance with positive thoughts such as, 'My immune system is strong and I am healthy', or 'I enjoy exceptional health.
' 3.
Redirect - when you feel the fear building up, redirect your attention to something else until the anxiety feeling subsides.
Indulge in something you enjoy thoroughly - such as smelling your favorite perfume (which you could carry on a handkerchief in your pocket or purse), caress a velvet cloth, eat an ice-cream - anything that gives you utmost joy and takes your mind off the trigger for anxiety for a while.
4.
Redo - challenge yourself to face your problems and apply yourself to redo the things that you fear to do.
For example, are you scared that you would be contaminated if you touched the counter of a shopping mall? Well, go ahead and touch it.
Make it a point to observe yourself the next day and appreciate that you are safe and healthy.
Do you feel the compulsion of re-checking the doors and windows? Check all once, write it down on a list and tick-mark all that has to be checked and forbid yourself to repeat the process.
Beware of the fact that you are safe and everything stays so.
5.
Repeat - keep challenging yourself.
Design a pyramid challenging yourself in 10 steps to reach freedom from your compulsive behavior.
Start with the mildest form of 'dare-to-do' and work it up to the thing you presently dread the most.
Give yourself enough time; this should not be hurried.
Keep repeating each step until you feel no anxiety when you do it.
Proceed to the next step only when you are completely satisfied with the results.
In most cases, this approach would help you to put the OCD behind you.
In some other cases, you may find that you are unable to move up the ladder in spite of your best efforts.
At such time, it is very important that you accept that you need help and take the advice of a medical practitioner to initiate treatment.
Though slow and painstaking, OCD can be reversed and you could be living a normal life again.
In most cases, people with OCD find it difficult to make friends or even keep their jobs.
It has also been observed that left to itself Anxiety disorder seems to worsen over time.
For SOS help to counter OCD try using the 5-R approach, which consists of the following four steps: 1.
Recognize - pay close attention to your thoughts and identify those, which point you in the direction of compulsive behavior.
Weed these thoughts out by writing them down in a diary or notebook meant for this purpose.
2.
Reorganize - once the thoughts are in front of you in black-and-white, reorganize your thoughts to change the negative aspects into positive aspects.
For example, let us say you are thinking you would be contaminated if you touched the door of a taxi.
Change that fear into reassurance with positive thoughts such as, 'My immune system is strong and I am healthy', or 'I enjoy exceptional health.
' 3.
Redirect - when you feel the fear building up, redirect your attention to something else until the anxiety feeling subsides.
Indulge in something you enjoy thoroughly - such as smelling your favorite perfume (which you could carry on a handkerchief in your pocket or purse), caress a velvet cloth, eat an ice-cream - anything that gives you utmost joy and takes your mind off the trigger for anxiety for a while.
4.
Redo - challenge yourself to face your problems and apply yourself to redo the things that you fear to do.
For example, are you scared that you would be contaminated if you touched the counter of a shopping mall? Well, go ahead and touch it.
Make it a point to observe yourself the next day and appreciate that you are safe and healthy.
Do you feel the compulsion of re-checking the doors and windows? Check all once, write it down on a list and tick-mark all that has to be checked and forbid yourself to repeat the process.
Beware of the fact that you are safe and everything stays so.
5.
Repeat - keep challenging yourself.
Design a pyramid challenging yourself in 10 steps to reach freedom from your compulsive behavior.
Start with the mildest form of 'dare-to-do' and work it up to the thing you presently dread the most.
Give yourself enough time; this should not be hurried.
Keep repeating each step until you feel no anxiety when you do it.
Proceed to the next step only when you are completely satisfied with the results.
In most cases, this approach would help you to put the OCD behind you.
In some other cases, you may find that you are unable to move up the ladder in spite of your best efforts.
At such time, it is very important that you accept that you need help and take the advice of a medical practitioner to initiate treatment.
Though slow and painstaking, OCD can be reversed and you could be living a normal life again.
