In today's fast paced world, stress and anxiety have become common companions for many. Yet, when these feeling morph into obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors, they can take over your life, making even the simplest tasks seem insurmountable. This is the reality for individuals suffering from OCD, a conditions that affects millions worldwide.

There is hope. Recent advancements understanding and treating OCD have opened new pathways for those struggling with this disorder. With the right combination of therapies and self help strategies, individuals can manage and in many cases significantly reduce the impact of OCD in their daily lives,

OCD is characterized by persistent, unwanted thoughts and repetitive behaviors or mental acts that individuals feel driven to perform. These compulsions are often carried out by the obsessions, but the relief is usualy temporary and the cycle continues. Common obsessions include fears of contamination, harming others, or doubts about having performed a certain action (like locking the door). Compulsions might involve excessive cleaning, counting or arranging objects in a specific way.

Breaking the Chains...

CBT Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is one of the most effective approaches within CBT for treating OCD. It involves gradually exposing individuals in a safe environment to the sources of their anxieties or obsessions while helping them to learn to resist the urge to perform they compulsive behaviors. Over time, this helps reduce the distress associated with obsession and diminishes the compulsive response.

Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy and other mindfulness practices can help individuals become more aware of their thoughts and feelings without becoming overwhelmed by them. Deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation are just a few techniques that can be used.

Medication is sometimes recommended. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors may be helpful to help manage symptoms by increasing levels of serotonin in the brain, which can help improve mood and reduce anxiety.

OCD can be helped. If you or someone you know is struggling. Contact a licensed professional that has experience in treating OCD.    GET HELP HERE

Parenting teenagers can be a challenging task, as they are going through a phase of rapid change and development. As parents, it can be tempting to resort to certain strategies that may seem effective in the short term, but can actually be counterproductive in the long run.


One ineffective strategy for parenting teens is using punishment as a primary form of discipline. While consequences for poor behavior are important, relying solely on punishment can create a negative and hostile environment in the home. This can lead to resentment and rebellion from the teenager, rather than fostering a positive and respectful relationship. Remember, the negative behavior you are seeing is often just a symptom of a deeper issue.


Another ineffective strategy is being too controlling and overbearing. While it is important to set boundaries and guidelines for your teenager, being overly strict and controlling can stifle their independence and autonomy. This can lead to feelings of resentment and a lack of trust between parent and child.


Avoiding difficult conversations and ignoring issues that arise can also be an ineffective parenting strategy. It is important to have open and honest communication with your teenager, even when discussing tough topics such as drugs, alcohol, and relationships. Ignoring these issues can lead to misunderstandings and missed opportunities for guidance and support. Your child will open up to you to the degree that they trust you. Harsh responses or lectures will shut them down.


Overall, it is important for parents to find a balance between setting boundaries and fostering independence, while also maintaining open communication and a positive relationship with their teenager. By avoiding these ineffective strategies and instead focusing on positive reinforcement, communication, and mutual respect, parents can effectively navigate the challenges of parenting a teenager.


“Permission to the heart is earned. Always.” (John Lynch, The Cure and Parents)