OCD & Contamination Fears: Feared Outcomes (Example: HIV/AIDS)

On December 12, 2011, in Contamination/Health-Related Symptoms, OCD, by Steven J. Seay, Ph.D.

In my last post, I identified several types of obsessions that are associated with contamination/health-related obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). These include the fear of:

  • Germs and getting sick.
  • Making others sick.
  • Developing an incurable illness in the future.
  • Experiencing extreme and uncontrollable disgust or distress.
  • Other unwanted negative outcomes related to the spread of germs, contaminants,
  •  (read more)

Contamination & Health-related OCD: Obsessions, Fears, & Worries

On December 10, 2011, in Contamination/Health-Related Symptoms, OCD, by Steven J. Seay, Ph.D.

What are common obsessions in contamination/disease/illness/health-focused OCD?

OCD: Fear of Getting Sick

Contamination- or health-related OCD is associated with persistent worries about one’s health or the health of loved ones. Common obsessions in contamination-related OCD include the fear of getting sick with a serious illness like rabies, ebola, H1N1 (swine flu), Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, mad cow …  (read more)

OCD Treatment: OCD vs. Me. How do I Tell the Difference?

On September 14, 2011, in CBT, ERP, OCD, OCD - Treatment, by Steven J. Seay, Ph.D.

Question: Because many of my OCD rituals are related to my professional identity, I’m worried that changing my rituals will somehow change those parts of me that I like (e.g., my personal goals and ambitions). Should I be concerned about this?

Early Onset OCD in Kids & Teens (Pediatric OCD)

Many people worry that by …  (read more)

OCD guilt, shame, disgust, anxiety & depression: Why treatment sometimes fails (and what to do about it)

On May 14, 2011, in ERP, OCD, OCD - General, by Steven J. Seay, Ph.D.

OCD isn’t just about anxiety. Although anxiety is certainly a prominent feature of the disorder, clinicians who only attend to anxious symptoms can easily overlook some of its other core features. As a psychologist in Palm Beach, Florida, I work closely with kids, teens, and adults throughout the greater Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and …  (read more)

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