Cognitive OCD

• People with OCD are usually plagued with obsessive thoughts but they also adopt cognitive strategies to deal with these
• 90% of people with OCD experience obsessive thoughts which vary considerably from person to person but are always unpleasant
• People also respond by adopting cognitive coping strategies to deal with obsessions e.g. praying. This helps to manage anxiety but can make personal appear abnormal to others and can distract them from everyday tasks
• People with OCD are aware that their obsessions are not rational. However they experience catastrophic thoughts about the worst case scenarios that might result if their anxieties were justified. They also tend to be hypervigilant.