What we Treat
Obsessive
Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a common, chronic, and lifelong disorder in which a person has uncontrollable, recurring thoughts (obsessions) and/or behaviors (compulsions) that he or she feels the need to repeat over and over. People with OCD have obsessions, compulsions, or both. These symptoms interfere with different aspects of life including work, school, and personal relationships. Obsessions are repeated thoughts, urges, or mental images that cause anxiety. Common symptoms include 1) fear of germs or contamination 2) unwanted forbidden or taboo thoughts involving sex, religion, or harm. 3) aggressive towards others or self 4) having things symmetrical or in a perfect order
Compulsions are repetitive behaviors that a person with OCD feels the urge to do in response to an obsessive thought. Common compulsions include: 1) excessive cleaning or hand washing 2) ordering and arranging things in a particular, precise way 3) repeatedly checking on things, such as repeatedly checking to see if the door is locked or that the oven is off 4) compulsive counting
Not all rituals or habits are compulsions. Everyone double checks things sometimes. But a person with OCD generally 1) can’t control his or her thoughts or behaviors, even when those thoughts or behaviors are recognized as excessive 3) spends at least 1 hour on these thoughts or behaviors 4) doesn’t get pleasure when performing the behaviors or rituals but may feel brief relief from the anxiety the thoughts cause 5) experiences significant problems in their daily life due to these thoughts or behaviors.
Social
Anxiety Disorder
A person with social anxiety disorder feels symptoms of anxiety or fear in situations where they may be scrutinized, evaluated, or judged by others. For example speaking in public, meeting new people, dating, being on a job interview, answering a question in class, or having to talk to a cashier in a store. Doing everyday things, such as eating or drinking in front of others or using a public restroom, also may cause anxiety or fear due to concerns about being humiliated, judged, and rejected. The fear that people with SAD have in social situations is so intense that they believe it is not under their control. For some people, this fear may get in the way of going to work, attending school, or doing everyday things.
When having to perform in front of or be around others, people with SAD may: 1) blush, sweat, or tremble 2) have a rapid heart beat 3) feel “their mind going blank” or feel sick to their stomach 4) having a rigid body posture, or speaking with an overly soft voice 5) find it difficult to make eye contact, be around people they don’t know, or talk to people in social situations, even when they want to 6) feel self-consciousness or fear that people will judge them negatively 7) avoid places where there are other people