Guide To Effective OCD Treatment Options

Habit Reversal Training

Habit reversal training is used as a therapeutic technique for a variety of different disorders. On top of OCD, habit reversal training can be used for Tourette's syndrome, pathological skin picking, and compulsive hair-pulling. The first component of this training is awareness training, which is a way of helping the person be more aware of their compulsions, tics, and other behaviors. Awareness training is typically broken down into several steps. After the patient has developed an awareness of when their behavior or tic occurs, their therapist will help them create a competing response, an action that helps replace the impulsive behavior or tic. The competing response tends to oppose the tic, and it can be continued for more than a few minutes. One example would be rather than pulling hair, an individual might curl their hands into fists and hold them firmly at either side of the body. Ideally, the competing action will be one others won't likely notice. To motivate themselves to keep behaviors from recurring, patients are encouraged to list the problems their behavior causes.

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