OCD and Anxiety Disorders
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition where people experience upsetting thoughts that keep coming back (called obsessions) and feel the need to do certain actions or routines (called compulsions) to feel less anxious or to stop something bad from happening. These thoughts and behaviors can take up a lot of time and make daily life harder.
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A related condition is Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), where a person becomes very focused on perceived flaws in their appearance, often spending a lot of time trying to fix or hide them. Both OCD and BDD are treatable with the right kind of therapy, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP).
What is OCD?
What is Body Dysmorphic Disorder?
What are Anxiety Disorders?
Anxiety disorders are a group of mental health conditions that involve excessive fear, worry, or nervousness that can get in the way of daily life. These include:
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Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), which involves constant worry about everyday things;
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Social Anxiety Disorder, which is a strong fear of being judged or embarrassed in social situations;
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Panic Disorder, which includes sudden and intense episodes of fear called panic attacks;
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Specific Phobias, which are strong fears of particular things or situations, like flying or spiders.
These disorders can cause both physical symptoms (like a racing heart or trouble breathing) and emotional distress, but they are treatable with therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), which helps people face and manage their fears.