Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Many people have heard of obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD, but many do not know how serious it can be. The term is used lightly and/or as a joke: "Gosh, you're so OCD!" But a person with OCD feels driven to perform compulsive and repetitive acts in an effort to ease distress. Despite his or her efforts to stop them, the distressing symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder keep coming back, and this leads to a vicious cycle of ritualistic behavior - and one that is very frustrating for the sufferer.

OCD can consume a person's life, and cause them to do little else but spend time focused on their obsessions and compulsions. Their OCD can cause them to become isolated, as those around them don't know how to deal with the person's actions, and the person with OCD feels they cannot and are not able to stop them. It can become a very lonely situation.

But there is help out there, and it starts with acceptance that there is a problem. I encourage anyone who has OCD tendencies or thinks they do to talk about it. Verbalizing emotions is the first step in getting help. Anyone who has questions about OCD, or wants to understand the condition more, Timberline Knolls has plenty of information on its website. Timberline Knolls treats women with OCD, eating disorders, alcohol and substance abuse, and complex co-occurring disorders.