Benzodiazepines are a class of medications commonly used to treat anxiety and related disorders due to their calming and sedative effects. While they can be effective in reducing anxiety symptoms, they are generally not considered a first-line treatment for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and there are several reasons for this.

Deciding whether to tackle OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) or anxiety first depends on the severity of each condition, how they interact, and your individual needs. It's important to note that OCD is actually classified as an anxiety disorder, as it involves intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors driven by anxiety.

Arachnophobia is an extreme and irrational fear of spiders or other arachnids, such as scorpions. It is one of the most common specific phobias, affecting millions of people worldwide.

In ERP (Exposure Response Prevention for OCD), individuals are exposed to anxiety-provoking situations or triggers and are encouraged to resist engaging in compulsive behaviors or rituals. The goal is to gradually reduce the power of obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. Urge-surfing can be used to support individuals during these exposure exercises.

At Kairos Wellness Collective, each clinician has an individual style to achieve the same result: effective and timely OCD treatment so that clients may move on with their lives unfettered by intrusive thoughts, compulsions, and maladaptive behaviors. Many treatment modalities exist for OCD work, including ERP, iCBT, and ACT.

Meditation is an effective tool to help with OCD, especially when combined with Exposure Response Prevention (ERP). ERP is a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy used to treat OCD by gradually exposing the patient to their OCD triggers and helping them resist engaging in rituals. By combining meditation with ERP, patients can learn how to observe their thoughts and feelings without responding in unhealthy ways.

Grounding exercises can be incredibly beneficial for managing anxiety spikes after Exposure Response Prevention creates some nervous system disregulation.  

Grounding exercises help you take back control of a hijacked nervous system and re-engage in therapy.