...unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions), which are usually accompanied by repetitive, ritualistic behaviors (compulsions). The obsessions cause anxiety, and the compulsions are performed to decrease the anxiety. The paradox here is that the more you perform the compulsions to decrease the anxiety from the obsessions, the more it maintains the negative, vicious cycle of OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder).
The treatment for OCD then involves not engaging in the compulsions when you are exposed to your trigger which sets off the obsessions. This is called exposure response prevention. For example, if you have OCD and germ contamination fears, then the treatment involves exposing yourself to filthy things, then stopping yourself from washing repeatedly. Only when you do not engage in the compulsions, can you then start to break this negative, vicious cycle of OCD.
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