The OCD Cycle

It can be easy to feel trapped when we're struggling with OCD, and the nature of the OCD cycle tends to contribute to this experience. Our intrusive thoughts can cause overwhelming distress and doubt, which we try to manage with compulsions—however, compulsions only offer temporary relief, and tend to make things worse in the long run. The most proven treatment for OCD is ERP therapy, which stands for exposure and response prevention. This approach can help you break the OCD cycle by teaching you how to cope without compulsions.