Obsessive compulsive disorder affects about 3 percent of the population, and although it was once considered to be quite rare, it afflicts about one in 50 Americans as of 2010, according to psychologist Eda Gorbis, of the Westwood Institute for...
Children with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have obsessive thoughts that lead them to behave in compulsive ways. For instance, a child with this disorder may be afraid that something bad will happen to her parents, so she might go to the...
Hobbies and healthy recurring activities can take the place of obsessive-compulsive thoughts if practiced regularly. In particular, activities that help you become more aware of your body's physical existence can calm you. Yoga and meditation...
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may result in a dual diagnosis if the patient also exhibits problems with drug addiction or alcoholism. Anxiety disorders, such as OCD, often have a dual diagnosis. The diagnosis requires therapists and patients...
Dermatophagia, or the compulsive biting of the skin around the nails, is a condition that closely relates to onychophagia, or the picking of the skin around the nails. These psychological conditions fall under the obsessive-compulsive disorder, or...
Deep breathing is a meditative exercise that helps establish mindfulness, an awareness of the rhythms and sensations of your body that allows you to refocus energy. You can use it when obsessive thoughts or compulsions arise, reducing the...
A licensed child therapist is likely to use cognitive-behavior therapy for a child with OCD. Such a counselor helps the child become aware of the condition and address it in ways that make sense to a young person. This type of therapy focuses on...
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is known for its obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. For example, someone struggling with OCD may have obsessive thoughts about germs which leads her to wash her hands over 100 times every day. Many...
People with OCD are plagued by images or thoughts that they have no control over and that seem to dominate their lives. The thoughts can take on many different forms, but they often center on fears of uncleanliness or contamination, thoughts of...
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is often used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The behavioral aspect involves ways to react to obsessive thoughts and cut down on compulsive rituals. You work with a therapist to develop coping tools for...
Obsessive-compulsive disorder, also known as OCD, is an anxiety disorder where individuals have distressing thoughts or fears that cause anxiety, and often lead to compulsive behaviors to alleviate this anxiety. In "Introduction to Child and...