ocd.app

Category: OCD app

  • OCD, PTSD, and how to cope with both

    OCD, PTSD, and how to cope with both

    After my car accident, I was diagnosed with PTSD. I was having intrusive thoughts about accidents and feeling like I was in danger all the time. I was also hypervigilant and always on the lookout for potential threats. My friends and family were trying to be supportive, but I felt like I was struggling to cope on my own. I still have days where I struggle. I am hopeful that with time and continued progress, I will be able to fully recover and live a normal life again.

    Corinne, Canada

    If you’ve experienced trauma, you may feel like you’re never going to feel normal again. The combination of OCD and trauma can add additional hardship.

    When someone is obsessively thinking about a traumatic event, they are re-living the trauma over and over again in their mind. This can lead to flashbacks, nightmares, and intrusive thoughts.

    The person may also start to avoid anything that reminds them of the trauma, which can make it difficult to function in daily life. This can all lead to a downward spiral of anxiety, depression, and even suicidal thoughts.

    There are studies that show the relationship between OCD and PTSD.

    5 symptoms of OCD and trauma

    1. Unwanted, intrusive thoughts that are difficult to control or stop.
    2. Excessive worry and anxiety about everyday situations.
    3. Compulsive behaviors or rituals that are performed in an attempt to ease anxiety or prevent certain thoughts from occurring.
    4. Avoidance of certain people, places, or things that trigger memories or thoughts of the trauma.
    5. flashbacks or intrusive memories of the trauma that can occur at any time.

    Recovery

    Studies about PTSD and OCD define recovery as strongly related to thinking and rituals: “effective treatment of trauma-related OCD is defined as the reduction in obsessional thoughts and compulsory rituals“.

    The good news is that there are treatments available that can help you recover and heal. One of these treatments is called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

    CBT is a type of therapy that helps you change the way you think about and react to your experiences. It can be used to treat a wide variety of mental health conditions, including trauma.

    Here are some of the ways that CBT can help you recover from trauma:

    1. It can help you understand your reactions.

    CBT can help you understand why you’re feeling the way you are. It can also help you see that your reactions are normal and that they don’t have to control your life.

    1. It can help you change the way you think about your experience.

    CBT can help you challenge the negative thoughts and beliefs that you have about your experience. It can help you see that your experience is not who you are.

    1. It can help you change the way you react to your experience.

    CBT can help you learn new ways of coping with your experience. It can help you deal with your emotions in a healthy way.

    1. It can help you connect with others.

    CBT can help you build supportive relationships with others. These relationships can provide you with the social support you need to heal.

    1. It can help you take care of yourself.

    CBT can help you develop healthy coping skills. These skills can help you take care of yourself physically and emotionally.

    If you or someone you know is struggling with OCD, PTSD or a combination of the two, it’s important to seek professional help.

  • 5 examples of magical thinking when you have OCD

    5 examples of magical thinking when you have OCD

    If you have OCD, it’s likely that you suffer from magical thinking. This is when you believe that your thoughts, emotions, and actions can control events and outcomes that are unrelated to you.

    For example, you may think that if you have a negative thought, something bad will happen to you. Or, you may think that if you don’t perform a certain ritual, something bad will happen.

    I am a sufferer of OCD, and my condition causes me to have what is known as magical thinking. This means that I often believe that my thoughts, actions, or words can influence events in the world around me in mysterious or supernatural ways.

    For example, I might believe that if I think about a certain person too much, I can make them have a car accident. Or, if I don’t perform a certain ritual just so, I might think that something bad will happen to me or my loved ones.

    I now know that my magical thinking can be extremely distressing and can cause me a great deal of anxiety.

    Stephan, Switzerland

    Here are five examples of magical thinking:

    1. Thinking that you can control the weather by thinking positive thoughts.

    2. Thinking that you can influence someone’s behavior by imagining doing something bad to them.

    3. Thinking that you can prevent accidents or illness by worrying about them.

    4. Thinking that you can control your destiny by making sure you don’t do anything that could jinx it.

    5. Thinking that you can influence other people’s thoughts and emotions by thinking about them in a certain way.

  • ROCD: 4 tips for living with a person who has Relationship OCD

    ROCD: 4 tips for living with a person who has Relationship OCD

    “I have lived with my partner for four years, and during that time they have been diagnosed with ROCD. It has been really tough at times, as they are constantly doubting our relationship and questioning whether they are really in love with me.

    This has led to them breaking up with me several times, even though they always end up coming back. It’s been really tough trying to deal with their ROCD, as it feels like they are constantly doubting my love for them.

    I have tried to be understanding and patient, but it can be really difficult when they are constantly questioning my feelings.

    I know that they are just trying to make sure that they are really in love with me, but it can be really tough to deal with. I am really hoping that we can find a way to deal with their ROCD, as it is really taking a toll on our relationship.

    I know that they are just trying to do what is best for them, but it is really hard to deal with. I am hoping that we can find a way to overcome this so that we can have a happy and healthy relationship.”

    — Emma G, Minneapolis, MN.

    If you’re in a relationship with someone who suffers from ROCD (Relationship OCD), you know that it can be tough. Here are some tips for living with ROCD:

    1. Communicate openly and honestly.
    This is probably the most important thing you can do. If your partner is fixated on a certain thought or worry, be open to hearing about it. Don’t try to fix the problem, just listen and be supportive.

    2. Be patient.
    ROCD can be a very frustrating condition, both for the sufferer and the partner. It’s important to remember that your partner is not choosing to be this way, and they are likely doing the best they can.

    3. Encourage your partner to seek professional help.
    If the ROCD is severe, it may be necessary to seek professional help. This can be a difficult decision, but ultimately it may be the best thing for both of you.

    4. Take care of yourself. It’s important to remember that you cannot control or fix your partner’s ROCD.
    You can only control how you react to it. Make sure to take care of yourself emotionally and mentally, and don’t hesitate to reach out to friends or family for support.

    The old way

    ocd.app

    Cost

     $$$ – Therapist costs

     $ – Save money

    Evidence

    No published evidence

    13 published studies

    Time burden

    Long term

    3-4 minutes of your day

    Results

    Takes months

    91% see first results within a week

    Privacy

    Privacy concerns

    Anonymous and private

    User feedback

    Mixed

    4.8 / 5.0 (2,635 reviews)

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  • OCD and Trauma

    OCD and Trauma

    When we think of trauma, we often think of events like car accidents, natural disasters, or physical or sexual abuse.

    However, trauma can also occur in response to less dramatic events, such as witnessing violence, being the victim of bullying, or growing up in a household where there was a lot of conflict.

    Trauma can have a major impact on our mental health, and one of the disorders it can contribute to is OCD. OCD is a mental illness that is characterized by intrusive, obsessive thoughts and repetitive, compulsive behaviors. People with OCD often feel like they have to do certain things in order to prevent something bad from happening. For example, someone with OCD might have a fear of germs and spend hours every day washing their hands and disinfecting their home. Or, someone with OCD might have a fear of being hurt, and so they might avoid leaving their house or driving.

    OCD can be a very debilitating disorder, and it is often made worse by trauma. This is because trauma can lead to feelings of fear, guilt, and powerlessness, which can trigger OCD symptoms.

  • 6 meditation tips for people with OCD

    6 meditation tips for people with OCD

    If you’re one of the many people who suffer from OCD, you know how difficult it can be to manage your symptoms and live a normal life. But there is hope!

    Meditation has been shown to be an effective tool in managing OCD symptoms. Here are six tips to help you get started:

    1. Choose a comfortable place to sit or lie down. You may want to close your eyes and focus on your breath.

    2. Start with a few minutes of meditation each day and gradually increase the amount of time you spend meditating.

    3. Be patient and don’t expect immediate results. It can take some time to see the benefits of meditation.

    4. When you have intrusive thoughts, try to observe them without judgment. Accept them as part of your experience and let them go.

    5. Practice mindfulness in your everyday life. Pay attention to the present moment and your surroundings. This can help you become more aware of your thoughts and feelings.

    6. Seek professional help if you feel like your OCD is severe and impacting your quality of life. A therapist can provide you with additional support and guidance.

    “The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.” – William James

    “If you want to conquer the anxiety of life, live in the moment, live in the breath.” – Amit Ray

    “Meditation brings wisdom; lack of meditation leaves ignorance. Know well what leads you forward and what holds you back, and choose the path that leads to wisdom.” – Buddha

    OCD.app gives users short 15-second meditations on supportive and helpful thoughts. These brief relaxation moments conclude the daily exercise and reinforce the learning while allowing your brain to wind down.

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  • Can changing the way you think help you cope with OCD?

    Can changing the way you think help you cope with OCD?

    It is now well documented that negative thinking habits affect people’s ability to deal with mental challenges. Multiple studies in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy show that OCD symptoms can improve by working on appraisals and adaptive thinking.

    However, it is sometimes unclear what is the cause and what’s the effect: does OCD fuel negative thinking? or does negative thinking fuel OCD?

    Common belief looks at OCD as some kind of an entity with its own mind. Trying to battle and control this entity is tiring and often fruitless.

    One approach Cognitive Behavioral Therapy suggests is to look at OCD from a different angle – by dividing the cognitive process to two: controllable and uncontrollable thoughts.

    When dealing with OCD, we can have all kinds of thoughts – some disturbing or annoying. One useful approach is letting these uncontrollable thoughts go by, without trying to control or change them.

    There are two parts to this approach though: following these uncontrollable thoughts, we can have additional thoughts – that continue and build upon the negative story and strengthen it. These thoughts are actually something that we can control.

    To give an example: I had a disturbing thought about me doing something bad. This thought was uncontrollable. I’d better just let is go and forget all about it.

    Immediately after it, pop additional thoughts: maybe I’m a bad person? What if I did something bad? These thoughts seem as a logical progression from the original uncontrollable thought, but they are actually part of the story I’m telling myself.

    So how do I avoid getting into the story?

    Here we can use another technique. We give the story a name. Let’s name this story – “The story of me thinking disturbing thoughts and getting freaked out about being a bad person”. From now on, when I will have these thoughts, I will ask myself – “Do I want to tell myself the story of me thinking disturbing thoughts and getting freaked out about being a bad person?”

    Is the answer yes? then maybe I do actually want to get into this story. But I have to now know that this was my choice. It is not some kind of external or uncontrollable entity that caused me to get into the story. It was me!

    Is the answer no? Great, let’s try to not get into this story then. This was just a thought, and while it was disturbing and hard taking it in, I can cope with it.

    Obviously, these are just suggestions. There are many techniques. For example, by using our OCD app, we can learn to let go of negative thoughts, and offer alternative, more adaptive thoughts that can come instead and replace the negative thoughts.

    The main conclusion? Focus on the controllable, and make your new year helpful and supportive.

  • OCD test: to check or not to check?

    OCD test: to check or not to check?

    People who deal with OCD can often feel the urge to check. Constant checking can become a ritual.

    Checking comes in many forms: making sure the door is locked, checking body temperature, monitoring relationships and checking to see if harm was done to self or others.

    Due to the nature of constant checking, people who are diagnosed with OCD are advised to resist the urge to check. However, when treating OCD with CBT, or when self-managing OCD with a CBT based app, users are sometimes asked to take a self assessment that “tests their OCD” – in other words, take an OCD test.

    The question that arises is therefore: is it advised to take the self-assessment and “check” my OCD? Or does it have the potential to negatively affect our ability to deal with OCD and improve?

    Professor Guy Doron, co-founder of GGtude and the expert behind GG OCD app, says that it’s OK to take the assessment when advised by a professional psychologist. However, re-doing the OCD self assessment is unhelpful. “As a guide, just complete the assessment and go on to complete the daily exercises,” Prof. Doron adds.

    Living with OCD is challenging. But thankfully, it’s also a treatable disorder and professional help can be an effective way to reduce checking and checking urges. 

  • OCD Test: what it means about you?

    OCD Test: what it means about you?

    There are thousands of daily searches with the term “OCD test”, as people go online to seek help with their condition and try to assess their situation and diagnosis.

    One of the most commonly used assessment scales for OCD is Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (OCI). It breaks up obsessive compulsive disorder into 42 items, that are divided to 7 parts: Washing, Checking, Doubting, Ordering, Obsessing Hoarding, and Mental Neutralising.

    OCI-R is a shorter OCD test, that uses just 18 questions instead of the original 42. There is also a newer, shorter version with just 4 questions (OCI-4).

    There are various tools online that use this scale as well as others.

    What your OCD test means about me?

    1. Assessments can be a good first step toward getting treatment.
    2. The score itself is just a number. It takes your subjective input and then, using data from previous research, outputs a score.
    3. A higher score means you are more likely to be suffering from OCD or related condition.
    4. This score can be used as a guide whether you should seek professional help for your condition.
    5. You can use the questions as a guide in order to better understand the condition you may be suffering from.

    What your OCD test doesn’t mean about me?

    1. Getting a certain result doesn’t mean you have OCD.
    2. Seeking help is recommended if you feel distressed, regardless of the test score.
    3. Never use self-assessment tools as medical advice. Always consult with you doctor.

    General information about OCD tests

    1. It’s not recommended to take tests too often. Try not to re-check your condition and focus on coping and recovery.
    2. Make sure whatever OCD test you take online, it has a privacy policy that clearly states that the information you provide is confidential.
    3. If you suffer from OCD, we strongly recommend that you seek help from a mental health professional in order to receive a proper diagnosis and support.

    Feel free to try our OCD Test and see for yourself.

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  • Can a mobile app help cope with OCD?

    Can a mobile app help cope with OCD?

    In the past, people coping with OCD who were looking for solutions had limited options. You could go see a psychiatrist, whose tools are psychotherapy and medicine. Later on, CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) introduced new protocols that proved to be effective for OCD.

    Nowadays, the gold standard for OCD remains CBT therapy, however there are new tools that use this methodology remotely or digitally. More often than before, people who want to solve a problem often search for an app that solves this problem. For example, if you want to improve your physical fitness, you may use an app for that.

    Apps have great potential as e-learning and training tools, because they are accessible, immediate and relatively easy to form habits with.

    So, when looking for an app to help deal with OCD, what should you look for?

    The 4 OCD app “must haves”

    1. Evidence based

    There are many products that promise the world, but not many of them are researched using academic methods and peer reviews. You want your app to have at least some sort of research backing and credibility. If possible, it should have actual on-product studies that are published in well known academic journals.

    2. Beyond articles and videos

    The power of apps is that they “applications” – meaning that they actually do stuff and not just serve as a browser. We are bombarded by information, but apps have the ability to transform the most relevant information into practice using daily tasks and activities.

    3. Great user experience and customer support

    You don’t want an app that someone uploaded to the app store ages ago but doesn’t provide support for. Search for apps that are being updated regularly, that provide with easy to use and intuitive user interface and that help you do what needs to be done as quickly and efficiently as possible.

    4. Privacy minded

    The last thing we want is that someone will use our private information for any purpose other than help us improve our coping with OCD. That’s why it’s important to use apps that clearly label their use of user data and their tracking policy.

    Most credible mental health apps know that and respect user privacy, but it’s always a good idea to check out this information. By the way, if an app uses anonymized tracking codes to drive downloads via marketing channels, it isn’t necessarily a problem. What is important is that the data isn’t shared and no identifiable user information is being shared across apps and platforms.

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  • Prof. Guy Doron answers your ROCD questions

    Prof. Guy Doron answers your ROCD questions

    This week, GGtude co-founder and CSO Prof. Guy Doron participated as a panelist in International OCD Foundation’s special event about Relationship OCD.

    Join IOCDF lead advocate Chris Trondsen, MS, AMFT, APCC and panelists Prof. Guy Doron, Dr. Danny S. Derby, and Zoe Homonoff as they discuss Relationship OCD (ROCD) and answer your questions.

  • 5 Techniques that can help you cope with OCD

    5 Techniques that can help you cope with OCD

    If you have been struggling with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), you know, all too well, that it can inflict an immense amount of pressure, distress, and conflict on your everyday life. OCD can get in the way of essentially everything you do, interfering with work, relationships, social outings, and your leisure time. Even in those moments when you try to relax—when you yearn for a break from the constant obsessions and compulsions—your OCD is still there, like a cloud, lingering over you at all times.

    Effectively managing OCD is possible. In fact, implementing effective cognitive and behavioral coping strategies can not only decrease and eliminate obsessions and compulsions, but it can also empower you as you discover your inner strength and courage to confront this challenging and trying disorder. Below we will discuss five of the most effective coping methods for your OCD.

    1. Exposure

    Challenging? Yes, it sure is. Exposure to your most feared situations or activities will require all of your innermost bravery. Most of all, executing this strategy takes your wholehearted commitment to ridding yourself of your obsessions and of performing compulsions.

    Exposure works by creating a hierarchy of the situations or activities that you avoid or fear and then gradually—at your own pace—exposing yourself without engaging in the compulsion. Think of exposure as getting comfortable with the things you dread and avoid the most.

    2. Use your imagination

    If actual exposure to your fears—and the situations, things, or activities that you avoid—seems like too much, too soon, there’s another very effective method of exposing yourself. Imaginal exposure is a strategy that involves picturing yourself in the feared or avoided situation as you successfully conquer those situations or tasks. If it means envisioning yourself touching a doorknob and then not washing your hands, imaging this scenario opens up the possibility that you can eventually build up to—and get comfortable with—not washing your hands afterwards in real-life.

    3. Relaxation training

    If you haven’t jumped on the mindfulness, deep breathing, or meditation bandwagon yet, don’t delay! These exercises are critical in managing your OCD. Relaxation strategies can alleviate tension, stress, and worry on the spot, but these techniques tend to have a cumulative effect. You will be able to see the benefits when you practice them every day.

    4. Identifying and replacing negative thoughts and beliefs

    The underlying force that contributes to and maintains your OCD are a myriad of negative thoughts and beliefs that you might not even be fully aware of. However, those negative cognitions are there and they certainly influence obsessions and compulsions.

    5. Preventing rituals and seeing what happens

    You can cope with OCD by doing your own, personal research experiment. Rituals are likely a big part of your daily life as you struggle with OCD, but you can take small steps to not do a certain ritual. The purpose of this is to see for yourself whether the consequence(s) that you fear most will actually occur. Since not doing a ritual might cause you to feel distress, fear, or other unpleasant emotions, you can begin this test by not doing a ritual that won’t stress you out too much, but will still challenge you a bit. Tell yourself that you will “just let this one go” as you stop yourself from doing the ritual. Then, watch and see if the scenario that you fear most actually occurs. This exercise breaks the connection you have created in your mind between the ritual and preventing something bad from happening. With practice and repetition, you can discover that the ritual has no real power. 

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    DISCLAIMER: This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

  • Body dissatisfaction and resilience

    Body dissatisfaction and resilience

    How our mental wellness app reduces negative body image for high risk female university students

    • Body dissatisfaction represents a prevalent condition in young women.
    • Daily training with our mobile app may reduce some forms of body dissatisfaction.
    • Medium-large effect size reductions emerged for BDD symptoms.
    • Effects of the intervention on eating disorder symptoms seem more limited.

    Body dissatisfaction is prevalent in young women and is associated with symptoms of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) and Eating Disorders (EDs).

    Prof. Guy Doron, co-founder of GGtude, together with a team of students and researchers, wanted to assess the positive effect of our mobile application, based on cognitive behavioral principles, in reducing body dissatisfaction and BDD/ED (Body Dysmorphic Disorder) symptoms in female university students, considered at high-risk of developing Body Image Disorders (BIDs). 

    How the study was conducted

    Fifty university students at high-risk of developing BIDs (using self-report questionnaires assessing BIDs and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Clinical Version) were assigned to two random groups: an immediate-use group (iApp group; n = 25) and a delayed-use group (dApp group; n = 25). The iApp group started using the app at baseline for 16 days (T0 to T1). The dApp group waited for 16 days before starting to use the app (T1 to T2). Participants completed questionnaires at baseline (T0), 16 days from baseline (T1), and 32 days from baseline (T2).

    The results

    Repeated measure Analyses of Variance (ANOVAs) showed a Group interaction on BDD symptoms indicating medium effect size reductions in the iApp group compared to dApp group; post-intervention means for BDD symptoms were under the cut-off for extreme body dissatisfaction/BDD symptoms in both groups.

    Conclusion

    Training 3 minutes a day for 16 days with our OCD mobile app may lead to reductions in some forms of body dissatisfaction, including BDD symptoms in female university students at high-risk of developing BIDs.

    What does it mean for people who suffer from body image issues?

    The results show that it’s possible to reduce some forms of body dissatisfaction using the app for 16 days, 3 minutes every day.

    You are welcome to try the app for free and see for yourself.

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    Citations

    Cerea S., Ghisi, M., Bottesi, G., Manoli, E., Carraro., T., & Doron (in press). Short, Daily Cognitive behavioural Training Using a Mobile Application Reduces Body Image Related Symptoms in High Risk Female University Students: A Randomized Controlled Study. Behavior Therapy.