Let’s face it we all do it. Google search. How many times a day do you search for the answer for something on Google? How many of those Google searches are related to OCD? I bet it’s a lot! Seeking information about OCD is extremely important. The more info we have on OCD, the better equipped you’ll be in terms of treating it. But when does information go from helpful to being unhelpful? When does it turn into reassurance seeking?
Knowledge is power. Knowing how OCD works, knowing what your triggers are, knowing how to engage with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) to treat OCD, and learning the nuances of OCD is vital as it will help you battle OCD from a position of strength. In some instances however, you might find yourself wondering if you even have OCD after receiving a diagnosis and being very well educated with it (their goes that doubt again!), or you may find yourself asking your treating clinician lots of questions about treatment etc. You may even find yourself on Google to search for articles, listen to lots of podcasts, read books, etc. All of these are important. In fact we often encourage our clients to read up on and listen to as many OCD related books and podcasts as they can. All of this is helpful in doses.
If you’re consuming information to help you stay grounded, to help you to get back into treatment, to help you to get back on track, then you’re using information in a helpful way. If you find however that you are reading and re-reading the same information, that you are needing to consume information before you move on, or that you need to ask a particular question in order to move on, then you may be consuming information in an unhelpful way. This is because that need, is fast turning into a need to know, and an inability to sit in uncertainty, which then leads to reassurance seeking. So if this is you, then consider the need to consume information a compulsion and try staying in uncertainty.
If you need further support in resisting the urge to engage in OCD compulsions, give our team a call on (03) 9882 8874 to book an appointment.
To subscribe and listen to our podcast “Breaking the Rules: A Clinician’s Guide to Treating OCD”, click on the following links: Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts. Episodes will be released fortnightly and will simultaneously be published on our webpage here.
This blog was written and prepared by Dr Celin Gelgec – Clinic Director and Clinical Psychologist at Melbourne Wellbeing Group.