Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive compulsive is a term thrown around a lot these days. From being a neat freak to arranging your closet by color, quirky traits do not always mean you have a mental illness. Individuals with OCD have intense, repetitive thoughts that make them anxious and do not go away. Anxiety can be so severe that the ability to work, sleep, socialize with friends, or live a fulfilling life is impacted. To compensate, individuals with OCD begin to engage in compulsive behaviors to reduce their anxiety. Classic themes include:
- Fears of contamination leading to excessive washing/cleaning
- Fears of harm coming to yourself or others leading to avoidance of dangerous triggers
- Intense distress/anxiety caused by things being out of place leading to constant organizing and ritualistic placement of objects
- Intrusive, unwanted sexual thoughts leading to neutralizing behaviors such as prayer to “cleanse” oneself
- Beliefs that a partner is cheating even when you know they are not, leading to behaviors that test your relationship
- Constant checking of locks, stovetops, etc. with intense anxiety if you are prevented from checking
Traditional treatment for OCD includes medication and/or therapy. The specific therapy utilized for OCD treatment is Exposure-Response Prevention therapy. With the help of RSK Psychiatry, you will learn how to confront your obsessions and limit your compulsions to reduce anxiety. Dr. Kaufman received longitudinal training at the Northwell Health OCD Center at Zucker Hillside Hospital. Over the course of three years, he engaged in complex medication management and exposure response therapy of treatment-resistant OCD patients. He is well-equipped to provide thoughtful and innovative exposure techniques to help you regain control of your own thoughts and improve your quality of life by kicking OCD to the curb.
If you think you are suffering from OCD, please fill out the additional OCD symptom questionnaire on the Forms page when requesting your appointment.
Although Exposure Response Prevention Therapy can be done virtually, some OCD themes and therapy exercises may require occasional in-person visits for maximum therapeutic effect. Please consider this when booking your OCD consultation.
OCPD
Do you think you are obsessive, rigid, and rule-bound without compulsions? You may have OCPD! OCPD is a personality “disorder” defined by:
- Perfectionism that prevents you from finishing work
- Extreme frugality
- Distress when you are late
- Over-the-top attention to detail
- Devotion to work that impedes on time spent with family and friends
- Rigidity/stubbornness when it comes to changing plans and schedules
- Hoarding of items that have little value
- Inability to let others do their job because you think it won’t be done right
If you’re tired of the stress caused by the struggle to be flexible in an uncertain world, you may benefit from treatment for OCPD. With therapy that integrates elements of cognitive behavior therapy, individuals with OCPD can learn to adapt their behaviors to live a more fulfilling life. Sessions can be completed virtually or in-person. Please mark your preference on the new patient questionnaire under the Forms page.