Most people have some idea of what obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is, but fewer are aware of the dangers of Harm OCD. This variation involves extreme anxiety over causing harm, either to yourself or others, and it can significantly impact your quality of life.
To address the underlying anxieties that can lead to OCD symptoms, one of the best options is to begin a treatment program. With individual and group sessions that rely on behavioral therapies, you can find your way back to stability at Promises Behavioral Health. Learn more about Harm OCD, why it occurs, and what steps you can take to get help.
Understanding Harm OCD
Harm OCD is a subtype of typical obsessive-compulsive disorder. It involves experiencing intrusive thoughts, also called “obsessions,” that revolve around causing harm to yourself or others. This could lead you to worry that you will act on those thoughts.
Some common intrusive thoughts associated with Harm OCD include worries of:
- Snapping and committing mass murder
- Sexually assaulting someone
- Harming a loved one
- Losing control and acting violently
Harm OCD may also lead people to worry about harming themselves, which can be very distressing. When this happens, it can sometimes be unclear whether these threats of self-harm should be taken seriously or not.
Searching for Internal Signs of Self-Harm or Violence: The Compulsion
If the intrusive thoughts are the obsession, the compulsion is the “checking” to make sure that you’ll not actually cause harm. You may search for signs of self-harm, like cuts or the impulse to overdose on pills. Alternatively, you could try to convince yourself that you’ll never hurt a loved one by telling yourself how much you love them.
All of these are compulsions, and they can become ritualized. You may repeat a certain phrase to yourself a few times to neutralize the intrusive thought or avoid walking by kitchen knives for fear of acting out on an obsession.
Although these rituals might help at first, they actually make the illness worse because they reinforce the fear that you have for the thoughts. These actions give power to the obsessions and label them as “dangerous.” Your brain will remember this, and these thoughts will continue to trigger anxiety.
Treating Harm OCD: Facing Your Fears
Treating Harm OCD requires that you do the opposite of what every instinct is screaming at you to do. Instead of avoiding thinking about what causes you distress, you must sit with those thoughts and allow them to exist. This slowly reduces their power.
This is easier said than done, however. It can be very frightening to accept thoughts of hurting those you love, and the anxiety can be overwhelming. That’s why it’s important that you not attempt to do this on your own.
Working with a therapist makes it easier to face intrusive thoughts because you know you have someone ready to step in if you’re really struggling. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is particularly helpful for all types of OCD, as is exposure therapy. It’s a slow process but one that makes it easier to loosen the grip that the condition has on you.
Another essential part of treatment is getting a grasp on why the Harm OCD began in the first place. You can learn to spot anxiety triggers and find coping strategies that don’t involve rituals.
Schedule an Assessment for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Treatment at Promises Behavioral Health Today
Anxiety disorders are some of the most difficult to treat because of the overwhelming distress you may experience during sessions with your therapist. This is why it is vital that you work with knowledgeable and experienced therapists who truly understand how to tackle this condition by employing the right strategies.
The team at Promises Behavioral Health provides the comprehensive treatment programs you need if you are living with Harm OCD. There is help available if you’re willing to reach out for it. Call our team at Promises Behavioral Health today at 888.483.7451 or use our online contact form.