Alberta OCD Community Support - Resources
Here we will add different links to articles or online reading material that may help you in dealing with your OCD or things that will help us to get a better understanding about OCD is and the different treatment options. You will also be able to find worksheets that can help you work through certain Obsessions and Compulsions on this page. If you also have or find a resource that you think will help others, please feel free to send them in so we can add them for others to see.
Monday, 13 August 2018
Thursday, 28 June 2018
Friday, 8 June 2018
Want to Know More About Your Obsessions?
Obsessions about Dirt and Contamination
Unfounded fears of contracting a dreadful illness Excessive concerns about dirt and germs (including the fear of spreading germs to others); and environmental contaminants, such as household cleaners Feelings of revulsion about bodily waste and secretions Obsessions about one's body Abnormal concerns about sticky substances or residues
Obsessive Need for Order or Symmetry
An overwhelming need to align objects "just so" Abnormal concerns about the neatness of one's personal appearance or one's environment
Obsessions about Hoarding or Saving
Stashing away useless trash (such as old newspapers or items rescued from trash cans) The inability to discard anything because it "may be needed sometime," a fear of losing something or discarding something by mistake
Obsessions with Sexual Content
Unwanted sexual thoughts that one views as inappropriate and unacceptable Fear of molesting a child, despite no desire to do so Fears that one may be homosexual
Repetitive Rituals
Repeating routine activities for no logical reason Repeating questions over and over Rewording or rewriting words or phrases
Nonsensical Doubts
Unfounded fears that one has failed to do some routine task (such as paying the mortgage or signing a check)
Religious Obsessions (Scrupulosity)
Troublesome blasphemous or sacrilegious thoughts Excessive concerns about morality and right or wrong
Obsessions with Aggressive Content
The fear of having caused some fatal tragedy (such as a fatal fire) Repeated intruding images of violence The fear of acting out a violent thought (such as stabbing or shooting someone) The irrational fear of having hurt someone (for example the fear of having hit someone while driving)
Obsessions with Food and Weight
Preoccupation with foods or food measurements Rituals involving food (for example making sure that every bite is the same size, not letting foods touch on plate, etc.) Irrational fears that some foods are bad or must be avoided Being overly concerned about one's weight (for example weighing one's self several times a day)
Superstitious Fears
The belief that certain numbers are "lucky" or "unlucky" Excessive, ritualized hand-washing, showering, bathing, or tooth-brushing The unshakable feeling that household items, such as dishes, are contaminated and cannot be washed enough to be "really clean"
Compulsions about Having Things Just Right
The need for symmetry and total order in one's environment (for example, the need to line up canned goods in the pantry in alphabetical order, to hang clothes in the exact same spot in the closet every day, or to wear certain clothes only on certain days) The need to keep doing something until one gets it "just right"
Hoarding Compulsions
Minutely inspecting household trash in case some "valuable" item has been thrown out Accumulating useless objects
Checking Compulsions
Repeatedly checking to see if a door is locked or an appliance is turned off Checking to make certain one has not harmed someone (for example, driving around and around the block to see if anyone has been run over) Checking and rechecking for mistakes (such as when balancing a checkbook) Checking associated with bodily obsessions (such as repeatedly checking oneself for signs of a catastrophic disease)
Other Compulsions
Pathological slowness in carrying out even the most routine activities Blinking or staring rituals Asking over and over for reassurance (ask a loved one if you're not sure!) Behaviors based on superstitious beliefs (such as fixed bedtime rituals to "ward off" evil or the need to avoid stepping on cracks in the sidewalk) A feeling of dread if some arbitrary act is not performed The overpowering need to tell someone something or to ask someone something or to confess something The need to touch, tap or rub certain objects repeatedly Counting compulsions: counting panes in windows or billboards along a highway, for example Mental rituals, such as reciting silent prayers in a effort to make a bad thought go away Excessive list making
Here's the link to the page...
http://hope4ocd.com/checklist.php
Unstuck
This Online Resource is great for parents with children who are suffering from OCD. It is actually a movie yet their site also has some amazing links to other resources, including books, other websites, a Facebook page where you can talk to others in the same situation as you are in.
Even in Edmonton we have had viewings of this moving along with an OCD panel to ask question to after the viewing for the last two years.
Even in Edmonton we have had viewings of this moving along with an OCD panel to ask question to after the viewing for the last two years.
https://www.ocdkidsmovie.com/ocdresources

Let's Build An Anxiety Hiearchy
This is one skill that can be very handy when doing Exposures. Start by writing one of your Obsessions on the top of the page or by the Hierarchy Items title where there is space. After that start to list all the compulsions - rules, physical rituals, mental rituals, or thoughts - anything that you do to stop the anxiety, worry, frustration, or discomfort from happening. Once you have completed that, beside where you named them put the anxiety level it cause you if you where to expose yourself to your Obsession and only do the one compulsions or none.
Once you see how the anxiety is rated, put the compulsions into the Hierarchy from least anxiety to most.
Here is an example of one that I have filled out and am working on. One thing I found that helps to keep you motivated to reach the end stage is to have a reason or goal as to why you want to reclaim this area from OCD!
Let's Talk about Books!
I want to find more resources for us and as soon as I typed in OCD resources, I found a bunch of books that we could look into reading. Some won't be very helpful so I am going to weed through a few and post the ones I believe will help.
Once a book is reviewed, I am also going to set up a monthly poll to see which book we all would like to discuss. The skills, ideas, information, and theories each book is based on. We can all come together to find what we found was helpful and some things that might actually harm our recovery and treatment. No book is without flaws, so if you notice something that triggers you - it probably would have triggered someone else. So, instead of stewing on it and letting your OCD make it into a huge, unwarranted threat, do the one thing that is known to be the most effective method of overcoming this - speak up, discuss, tell yourself that it is just your OCD and that it OCD loves to lie.
If anyone has any books or articles that they have read already and want to share, email me. I will share it on our blog!
I am going to be using a kindle account to read most of these books so if once I report on a book being helpful and you wish to also read it - send me and email and I can lend the book to you through kindle (If you have a kindle). I also have a few soft cover books at the moment that I am reading as well. I will review them all on this blog - the Alberta OCD Community Support Resource.
Once a book is reviewed, I am also going to set up a monthly poll to see which book we all would like to discuss. The skills, ideas, information, and theories each book is based on. We can all come together to find what we found was helpful and some things that might actually harm our recovery and treatment. No book is without flaws, so if you notice something that triggers you - it probably would have triggered someone else. So, instead of stewing on it and letting your OCD make it into a huge, unwarranted threat, do the one thing that is known to be the most effective method of overcoming this - speak up, discuss, tell yourself that it is just your OCD and that it OCD loves to lie.
If anyone has any books or articles that they have read already and want to share, email me. I will share it on our blog!
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