Fears that if they don’t do certain things in a certain way, something bad will happen (fear something bad will happen to themselves or a loved one).Individuals who engage in magical thinking have a mentality that causes them to be fearful and preoccupied with ensuring the safety and wellbeing of themselves and others through engaging in certain thoughts or behaviors that become associated with preserving safety. OCD symptoms typically worsen over time and can take over a person’s life, so it is very important to seek OCD treatment as soon as possible with a skilled and dedicated OCD specialist who can provide expertise and support during this journey.Ĭommon Compulsions of Magical Thinking OCD The Gateway Institute offers Intensive Outpatient treatment options as well as regular outpatient psychotherapy sessions, and a free, 30 minute face-to-face consultation with one of our experienced and caring clinicians at all three of our beautiful locations in Orange County, Scottsdale, Arizona, and the San Francisco Bay Area. If patients are suffering from severe levels of anxiety due to their OCD, they may benefit from participating in treatment at an Intensive Outpatient (IOP) OCD treatment program, as is offered by The Gateway Institute.

Once they are able to stop themselves from responding to their intrusive thoughts with compulsive behaviors, they can experience tremendous relief from the symptoms of OCD. The situations that are confronted will intensify over time, until the patient can face and overcome their most feared scenario. The goal of this treatment is for the patient to prevent himself or herself from completing their compulsive behaviors when triggered by intrusive thoughts.

Mindfulness-Based CBT is a very effective OCD treatment, especially when combined with ERP.ĮRP exposes patients to situations related to their intrusive thoughts that cause them anxiety. Individuals will also learn that intrusive thoughts have no power over them and that by responding to their thoughts through compulsive behaviors, their thoughts are given more strength and credibility and their fears and obsessions are strengthened and reinforced.

Mindful-Based CBT teaches patients that everyone experiences intrusive thoughts. Like all types of OCD, Magical Thinking can be treated with Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), specifically with treatment approaches called Exposure with Response Prevention (ERP), and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. People suffering from Magical Thinking OCD are encouraged to seek treatment from a mental health treatment provider that specializes in the treatment of OCD. OCD specialists are equipped and prepared to treat a wide array of OCD subtypes, including Magical Thinking.

Believing intrusive thoughts ocd