NewsBreak Original

I was in graduate school when I first worked up the courage to go see a therapist. I was studying hard for my masters, cramming my entire two-year program into one. Holding the status of "Super Senior," I was coming back from my hip surgery, training at a high level, and becoming increasingly frustrated by the way my body was healing (or not healing) from the surgery.

A lot of people read my blog and send me questions about eating disorders: how can someone tell if their child has one? What are the signs? Is it a genetic issue or caused by environmental pressures? What does social media have to do with everything? Can eating disorders be resolved on their own or do they require specific treatment? This last question gets me. It could be possible to recover without help, but I've never heard of it, and I certainly didn't experience it. I had the support of an outpatient program as well as years of therapy and intimate work with a dietitian. Today, I'm going to do my best to disseminate the different types of treatments and help you understand what to expect.

Exploring the most effective treatment for OCD. Exposure therapy is commonly understood as a treatment for OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). OCD is a disorder rooted in obsessions and compulsions. These obsessions can usually form from an anxiety someone has relating to their obsession.

The words that follow are written in part from the perspective of a former mental health professional with dual training in Abnormal Psychology and Special Education. Though I left the field to become a full-time writer, I have continued my studies in the mental health realm. As with several of my articles for NewsBreak, personal anecdotes are included. Attributions for this article are included and linked below.