Anxiety & OCD
What is anxiety?
Anxiety disorders often involve intense fear or anxiety that gets in the way of daily life. The anxiety may cause significant distress or lead to problems in relationships, work or school, or other important areas of life. Anxiety disorders are one of the most common mental health challenges people face and can take many forms.
Generalized Anxiety: Worry about many routine, day-to-day things that is difficult to control
Social Anxiety: Fear about being rejected, judged, or embarrassed by others, may be related to social situations generally or specific to performance situations (e.g., public speaking)
Panic Attacks: Recurrent, sudden and intense episodes of physical (e.g., racing heartbeat, sweating) and psychological symptoms (e.g., fear of losing control or dying, dissociation)
Agoraphobia: Fear and avoidance of places where escape or getting help might be difficult (e.g., public transit, leaving the house)
Phobias: Fear about a specific trigger or situation (e.g., dogs, heights, flying)
What is OCD?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) involves persistent obsessions and/or compulsions that are upsetting, difficult to control, and interfere with daily life. While anxiety is often a core feature of OCD, other emotions can come up and cause distress. For example, clients may struggle with intense feelings of shame, guilt, disgust, or not-just-right feelings.
Obsessions: Intrusive, unwanted, and highly distressing thoughts, impulses, or images that are difficult to dismiss. Common themes often include…
Concerns with contamination, dirt, or germs
Fears about being responsible for harm
Unacceptable thoughts about sex, violence, or other valued topics
Need for symmetry or for things to be “just right”
Compulsions: Repetitive behaviors or rituals that are done to manage or cope with intrusive thoughts and associated feelings.
The perinatal period can be a time of risk for the onset or worsening of anxiety and OCD. Learn more about perinatal mental health here.
Evidence-Based Treatments
Evidence-based psychological treatments are interventions that are backed by science. The treatments with the most research support for treating Anxiety & OCD include:
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies:
Exposure Therapy (e.g., ERP for OCD)
Unified Protocol
Acceptance-Based Therapies:
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Acceptance-Based Behavioral Therapy (ABBT)
Research also suggests Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), including DBT Skills Training, may be helpful for some clients.
Readings & Workbooks
Check out our bookshelf on anxiety & OCD.
Relevant Organizations
Find a Provider
I know how important it is to find the right provider.
I offer evidence-based treatments for anxiety and OCD. If you think we might be a good fit, learn more about me and my practice, or get in touch to schedule a free, 15-minute consult call.
Looking for something else? There are many ways to find a provider. These directories can help locate providers who focus on anxiety and/or OCD and meet different criteria (e.g., insurance coverage, location, therapies offered):