My commitment is to "spell out OCD" - helping you simplify the complexities of OCD and empowering you to take action with confidence.

OCD or Generalized Anxiety Disorder
(GAD)?💡
🔠Spelling Out OCD🔍

One of the questions I get asked the most is: How do you tell the difference between OCD and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?

Both OCD and GAD involve anxiety, and their symptoms can often look like one another. However, there are a few distinct differences, and treatment approaches can also differ. Misdiagnosis can significantly impact treatment effectiveness, leading to prolonged suffering and reduced quality of life.

What is OCD?

OCD is marked by intrusive thoughts, urges, images, or doubts (obsessions) and repetitive physical or mental behaviors (compulsions) that are time-consuming or cause significant distress. It is no longer classified as an anxiety disorder in the DSM-5-TR.

What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?

GAD involves persistent and pervasive worry about various aspects of life, accompanied by physiological and psychological symptoms like restlessness, fatigue, irritability, and muscle tension.

How do you tell the difference between OCD and GAD?

To differentiate between OCD and GAD, consider the nature of the worries and behaviors. In GAD, worries tend to involve everyday things, such as work, finances, or health. The symptoms of GAD can be categorized into two main areas: excessive worry and associated physiological and psychological symptoms. To be diagnosed with GAD, one must experience the symptoms more days than not for at least 6 months.

In contrast, OCD worries and compulsions can sometimes seem more irrational and often include a sense of urgency. It’s coined the “Doubting Disorder” and its tagline is, “What if?” Someone with OCD might fear being fired after reading a article about someone else being laid off, and then they may feel compelled to perform a ritual, like blinking a certain number of times, to prevent this outcome, even though they know it is unlikely that blinking actually prevents the feared outcome from happening.

Interested in learning more? Check out my latest blog post "OCD vs. Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Understanding the Differences for Better Treatment" below:

If you'd like further training on how to differentiate OCD from GAD, I have a training 3xs / year on this topic.

Learn more and register for the training below:

Hope you have a great Friday and a restful weekend!

With kind regards, ​​ Natasha Moharter, LPCC, CPC, MHC ​OCD Specialist & Licensed Counselor ​OCD.xyz​ Want to work with me? Reach out today! Schedule a Consult ​​​​ 7318 W. Post Road, Suite 211, Las Vegas, Nevada 89113 ​Unsubscribe · Preferences​

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