CBT and Exposure Therapy: Quick Facts
Does this treatment (CBT and exposure therapy) really work? Yes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), especially when it includes exposure, is one of the most studied and effective treatments for anxiety and OCD. CBT at a glance• Recommended as a first-line treatment by the American Psychological Association, NICE (UK), and the World Health Organization• 60–80 percent […]
ERP for Emotional Contamination OCD
Emotional contamination OCD centers around the fear that exposure to another person, object, or environment associated with negative qualities will somehow corrupt or “taint” one’s internal world. Unlike classic contamination fears (focused on germs or illness), this subtype involves existential or moral contagion—the idea that a “bad essence” or emotional residue can spread through symbolic […]
Crushing Sports Anxiety: Why Practicing Imperfection Is the Key to Peak Performance
You’re on the free-throw line, or lining up a short putt. You’ve done it a thousand times before. But now your hands feel shaky, your body stiff, your brain foggy—and the more you try to get it right, the worse it gets. Welcome to the frustrating world of sports performance anxiety—and in particular, the phenomenon […]
Understanding and Treating Somatic OCD with “Eye Popping” Fears
For most people, the thought of their eyeball “popping out” might sound unusual or even silly. But for someone struggling with Somatic OCD—a subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder that latches onto body sensations—this fear can feel terrifying and all-consuming. Why Your Eyeball Is Safer Than OCD Wants You to Believe Here’s the good news: your eyes […]
Crushing Sports Anxiety: Why Practicing Imperfection Is the Key to Peak Performance
You’re on the free-throw line, or lining up a short putt. You’ve done it a thousand times before. But now your hands feel shaky, your body stiff, your brain foggy—and the more you try to get it right, the worse it gets. Welcome to the frustrating world of sports performance anxiety—and in particular, the phenomenon […]
Is It Relationship OCD or Just a Bad Relationship?
You’ve asked your friends. You’ve Googled it at 2 AM. You’ve even made a pro-and-con list about your partner’s chewing habits. And yet, you still can’t shake the feeling: Am I in the right relationship? If you’re trapped in a never-ending loop of “What if I don’t really love them?” or “What if someone better […]
Somatic OCD: When Normal Sensations Get Weird
Most people have fleeting moments where something about their own body or senses feels strange.Maybe you’ve had a random thought like, “Isn’t it weird that I’m seeing the world through these two small openings in my head?”Or a split-second curiosity about where in your brain your thoughts are happening.These quick blips of awareness usually pass […]
Embracing Uncertainty: How CBT and ERP Can Help You Break Free from the Fear of the Unknown
One of the most fundamental truths in life is that uncertainty is inevitable. Yet, for many, the inability to predict or control the future feels intolerable. If you struggle with a fear of uncertainty, you may find yourself trapped in a cycle of compulsions—constantly seeking reassurance, overanalyzing situations, or avoiding uncertainty altogether. While these strategies […]
Training Your Brain for a Perfectly Imperfect Life: ERP for Tourettic OCD
As the new year approaches, many people focus on resolutions to create change in their lives. But if you struggle with Tourettic OCD, every day is an opportunity to retrain your brain, teaching it to tolerate the “just wrong” feelings that lead to compulsions and tics. Rather than aiming for perfection, you can learn to […]