If you find yourself feeling doubtful (“Did I do everything I could? Am I really sane? Will I become a criminal? Can I really get to the other side of OCD?”), address these feelings. Say to yourself, “I have doubts about this situation. Is this coming from me or from OCD?” The same is true for guilt.

For example, a person with contamination fears may be triggered by using a dirty public restroom and begin washing compulsions as a result of the distress. This is a lapse.

Say to yourself, “I know this is a stressful situation, and that obsessive thoughts or fears may happen. Even if they do, it does not mean that I am failing. ”

Say to yourself, “This is stressful, but I know I can handle this. This fear exposure can help me work past my anxieties and not need to perform a ritual. ”[4] X Expert Source Padam Bhatia, MDBoard Certified Psychiatrist Expert Interview. 3 April 2020.

There’s no need to guilt or shame yourself. Forgive yourself and get back on track. If you have a rigid approach to treatment and success, it can backfire. Recognize that obsessions won’t go entirely away and you may experience triggers and fears.

For example, a fear of germs may occur. If not dealt with immediately, you may turn to hand washing or excessively cleaning the house as a way to deal with the fear. Confronting the fear may include you thinking, “I recognize that I’m having a fear of germs come up. I know that germs exist and that sometimes they make people sick. I do a good job of cleaning myself and my house, which makes me at a lower risk of contracting anything. ”

For example, if you need your items to be symmetrical, begin to purposefully leave one thing out of row, then place it back 30 seconds later. Continue to do this over time and recognize that it causes less and less distress to be exposed to non-symmetry.

If fears or obsessive thoughts begin to arise, take note and say to yourself, “This is an obsessive thought. I know I completed this task. ”

Recognize that having obsessive thoughts is nothing to be ashamed of, but it is important to plan for them and be prepared to deal with them.

Having your external life balanced can help your internal life be more balanced and make each day more predictable.

The best type of therapy is Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, which is also known as “Talk Therapy”. Other types of therapy to help out with your relapse of OCD include Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), which is a type of CBT. ERP involves progressive exposure of the object or situation that is leading to the relapse, and how to best cope with your anxiety about the obsession.

By isolating yourself, you increase your risk of experiencing anxiety and OCD. Surround yourself with people who care about you.

If you do not have a group near you in your community, join an online support group. For more information, check out How to Join an Anxiety Disorder Support Group.

Medication approved by the FDA for the treatment of OCD are antidepressants. [17] X Expert Source Padam Bhatia, MDBoard Certified Psychiatrist Expert Interview. 3 April 2020. These include the following medications: Clomipramine, Fluoxetine, Fluvoxamine, Paroxetine, and Sertraline. [18] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Never stop antidepressant medication without the approval of your doctor because there are serious side effects that can result, which is sometimes called discontinuation syndrome. Medication is rarely effective by itself. It is most effective when combined with therapy. [19] X Trustworthy Source HelpGuide Nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free, evidence-based mental health and wellness resources. Go to source