Treating Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Through Counseling Services

Although you might think that your obsessive tendencies to keep your house clean are normal, the fixation you have on cleaning could be driving your family crazy and could actually be a disorder. You might be suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which is a widely recognized condition. If so, you may want to get help for this by attending adult counseling services.

What is obsessive-compulsive disorder?

OCD is a condition that causes compulsive, repetitive behaviors. For some people this involves cleaning their homes constantly, but for others it could involve:

• Washing their hands repeatedly – People who do this are often afraid of germs, bacteria, and contamination.
• Checking door locks all the time – When people do this, they are often fearful that someone will break in, and these fears can consume their thoughts.
• Hoarding things – Hoarding is another form of OCD. When people hoard, they are fearful of throwing things away.

Any type of obsessive habit like this could be considered OCD, including cleaning too much. Cleaning your house weekly is not a problem, but cleaning can be a problem when it is something you do all the time, even when it is not needed.

While only 1% of adult Americans are diagnosed with OCD each year, experts believe that as much as 94% of the adult population in the U.S. may actually suffer from some type of OCD.

How can counseling help?

Counseling services can often be incredibly helpful for people with OCD, and the first goal in counseling is narrowing down the issue that is causing a person to do what they do. If you seek counseling for this, your counselor will try to determine what is causing you to clean so much. There is almost always some type of underlying cause for this condition. If this can be discovered, it can be easier for a person to change his or her habits.

Once the underlying cause is determined, your counselor may help you find ways to break the cycle of your cleaning habits. In addition, the counselor may recommend psychotherapy, which is one of the most common ways OCD is treated. Through psychotherapy, you will be exposed gradually to messes in your house. As this occurs, you will learn better strategies for coping with your feelings and actions.

Breaking the repeated habits of cleaning constantly does not mean you will have to live in a messy house, but it does mean that you will be able to reduce the anxiety and stress you feel about this issue. To learn more about OCD or to get help, make an appointment at Park Center Inc for adult counseling.

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