OCD Treatment

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a neurodivergent condition and mental disorder estimated to be experienced by 2-3% of the general population. An obsession is a thought that is unwanted, intrusive and repetitive. An obsession may present itself as an idea, a question, a statement, an image, an urge, a memory, or another form, and are experienced as distressing in varied intensity. A compulsion is a behavior someone engages in to cope with the distress of the obsession and gain a sense of certainty and safety. This behavior may be physical and/or tangible (i.e.,  washing or checking) or mental (i.e., reassurance-seeking, mental reviewing or neutralizing). (Hershfield & Corboy, 2013)

The neurodiversity movement is a social movement that initially emerged among autistic self-advocates that differentiates people with neurotypical brain structures (considered 'normal' and benefit from how our society is structured) and neurodivergent brain structures (considered 'abnormal,' 'dysfunctional,' 'disordered' and is marginalized and othered by how our society is structured). In addition to autism, neurodivergent conditions include ADHD, OCD, and Dyspraxia (among many others). The neurodiversity movement joins the disability justice movement in framing neurodiversity and disability as important parts of biodiversity—this paradigm challenges the medical model's attempts to ‘treat’ or ‘cure’ neurodivergence. (Chapman, 2021)

The word disorder describes a group of acute and/or ongoing symptoms—frequently unstable and distressing in nature—that are not managed, treated or contained to the point where they are impairing someone's quality of life and ability/capacity to live the life they want to lead. (Hershfield & Corboy, 2013)

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a neurodivergent condition and not inherently a "disorder." However, when untreated and/or heightened symptoms become distressing, OCD can be incredibly disruptive and is considered one of the top ten most disabling mental illnesses in the world. 

(Pinto et al., 2012)

OCD can have significant impacts on one's experience of their sexuality, including the following: High levels of sexual avoidance, high levels of disgust and revulsion when thinking about sex, higher levels of sexual anxiety and higher levels of sexual concerns.

Additionally, OCD includes several sexuality-related subthemes. Common sexually-related obsessions include the following: Fears relating to cleanliness or contamination with sex, fears relating to sexual orientation, intrusive violent sexual images and fears of acting out images, focus on actual or exaggerated religious prohibitions around sexual behaviors, and fears relating to pregnancy.

While OCD can be highly distressing and disruptive to one's life, symptoms of OCD are highly treatable and manageable. Those suffering with OCD can benefit from a combination of therapeutic treatments including the following: Cognitive-behavioral approaches (specifically Exposure & Response Prevention), psychiatric medications, supplemental family/relationship therapy, and community/group support.