Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD):
OCD is a mental health condition characterized by unwanted, recurring thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or rituals (compulsions) that individuals feel driven to perform. These behaviors are often intended to ease the distress caused by the obsessions, but they also interfere with daily life.

• Common Obsessions: Fear of contamination, need for symmetry, fear of harm to oneself or others, fear of forgetting.

• Common Compulsions: Excessive cleaning, checking locks or appliances, counting, or repeating phrases.

Phobias:
A phobia is an intense fear of a specific object, situation, or activity. Unlike general anxiety, phobias are tied to a specific trigger and can lead to avoidance behaviors that significantly impact daily functioning.

• Common Phobias: Fear of heights, fear of driving, fear of flying, fear of spiders, fear of enclosed spaces, or fear of public speaking.

When looking for a provider to treat these conditions, it is imperative that they are trained in the gold standard treatment intervention: Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy. These conditions can worsen if they are not treated properly with evidence-based care. In addition, it is very helpful to have a therapist who has a trauma-informed lens, to determine if there is an underlying trauma that must be treated first, to hasten symptom improvement.