OCD treatment boosted by support groups

by Dr. Craig April, Director of The April Center for Anxiety Attack Management - Los Angeles
www.KickFear.com

OCD treatment can be boosted by support groups.

Why is this so? A couple of reasons:

1.) OCD sufferers often experience a lot of shame.

2.) OCD sufferers often experience a lot of loneliness.

Support groups focused on OCD treatment offer a non-judgmental place where people can share their obsesions and compulsions as they work on reducing symptoms.

One very frequent topic in my OCD support groups is the neurobiology of the disorder and how shame, based on this reality, is unreasonable. Because OCD is a neurobiological disorder (part of one's brain), it is not as if an individual chooses OCD or has some weakness that creates it. To feel a lot of shame over OCD is like the diabetic feeling ashamed for having diabetes, or the handicapped person being ashamed over an inability to walk. Hearing these examples, it is easy to point out that one shouldn't feel shame in these contexts. And yet, shame is common.

Groups offer a place to work through that shame while getting support and help moving toward anxiety relief.

Loneliness is also a common experience with OCD. Groups offer the opportunity to connect with others who share similar experiences of anxiety and OCD.

Based on the nature of obsessions which are generally dark, catastrophic and/or perceived as inappropriate, shame and loneliness are common. However, support groups can make a huge difference for those struggling.

Follow this link for more on OCD treatment and support groups