Since the onset of COVID, OCD has become one of the most talked about mental health disorders in our community. Throughout the pandemic, many people struggled to differentiate between a normal increase in anxiety related to COVID and OCD. For many people that had OCD prior to the pandemic, their symptoms worsened. For some, anxiety about germs was new and uncharted territory, leaving them wondering if their reactions were "normal" or something more serious.

OCD is much more than anxiety about germs. Although many people with OCD struggle with intrusive thoughts about contamination, OCD takes many other forms. Unwanted thoughts can range anywhere from worry about leaving an object behind to doubting your ability to act safely around others. It can cause people to question their sexuality, struggle to leave their homes, pet their dogs, or eat certain foods. Left untreated, OCD can lead to further issues of depression, low self-esteem, and addictive tendencies.

Our MFS therapist, Jaclyn Rink, LLP, specializes in the treatment of OCD for all ages. This month, she's written up 6 OCD Myths and Misconceptions to help you learn more about OCD and navigate the difference between anxious tendencies and when to seek treatment.

Read Below!

I remember getting my first apartment and immediately rushing to the nearest Bed Bath and Beyond to try and decorate it. As I filled up my cart with throw pillows and wall art, I heard my dad's voice: "The longer you wait for something, the more you'll appreciate it when you finally get it," encouraging me to save up for things I wanted, versus putting them on my credit card. I don't think I listened that day. Why? Because instant gratification seemed like the better option. Why? Because having patience is hard!

Even more so, dealing with feelings is hard. When feelings are negative, we want nothing more than to get rid of them. I don't know one person that would willingly sign up for the emotions of guilt, grief, anger ,jealousy, or depression. When we feel these emotions, having patience for them doesn't seem like an option, and we tend to seek out ways to lessen their length and discomfort. This usually includes more maladaptive behaviors such as self-harm, substance use, compulsions, yelling, or avoiding to help rid ourselves of the emotion. Little do we realize that such behaviors usually end up causing the same emotion we were trying to run from (e.g., I feel guilt which causes me to self-harm, and then self-harm makes me feel guilty, repeat).

How do we stop this cycle? Well, it's very similar to how we treat OCD (as discussed earlier): We allow ourselves to experience negative feelings without having a negative reaction to them. This is where patience comes in. It takes time to ride out the wave that is your feeling, to see it through to the end without jumping overboard (maladaptive behavior). If you jump overboard, you never get to your destination (healing). You instead, jump right back into the wave (negative feeling). Following my metaphor? You have to ride the wave. This means tolerating uncertainty and feeling out of control for the time being; sitting with that negative emotion. Trust me, your body is not designed to stay in a state of hyperarousal and will start to balance out your emotions naturally, bringing you back to a state of calm. You will reach the shore, it just takes some time. Magellan didn't sail around the world in one day. That man had some patience.

Warmly, -Jaclyn