OCD Worksheets and Prompts to Manage Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Understanding OCD Treatment and Evidence-Based Approaches

Are you trying to manage your obsessive-compulsive disorder more effectively? Our OCD worksheets and prompts can help you understand and conquer the unique challenges of your intrusive thoughts and compulsions. Whether you are just starting your recovery journey or are in therapy and looking for supplemental strategies for your condition, these resources can help limit those unwanted thoughts.

OCD occurs on a spectrum, meaning that the severity of the OCD symptoms covers a wide range. Icarus Behavioral Health of New Mexico has successfully treated clients with obsessive thoughts and compulsions from mild to debilitating. As a Joint Commission-accredited mental health treatment center, we exceed industry standards and help people regain control over OCD.

We invite you to take advantage of our free OCD worksheets and keep reading to learn more about OCD and our evidence-based treatment programs for obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Engage with our OCD Worksheets

Our OCD worksheets do not imply a diagnosis of your condition. Nor do they replace therapy or formal treatment for mental health concerns. Instead, consider our worksheets a supplemental tool to complete and share with your therapist or treatment professional.

Track Your Triggers and Responses Worksheets

The first of our worksheets is a “Triggers and Responses Tracker Sheet.” Writing down your the intrusive thoughts and any responses when they happen allows the individual to track and engage with them objectively. When clients list and track triggers and behaviors over time, they start to notice the patterns and behaviors that might have otherwise gone overlooked.

In fact, clients help the treatment professional customize a plan that meets their individual needs when they record the cognitive distortions and the response behaviors.

Journal Prompt Worksheets to Support Response Prevention Therapy

Response prevention therapy, which your therapist might also call exposure and response prevention or ERP, exposes you to your fears or obsessions without allowing you to practice the usual compulsive behavior. ERP helps you lessen your anxiety and understand that the feared outcome will rarely actually happen.

You can review and reflect on your entries later to explain your thoughts to your treatment provider. These three journal prompts support exposure and response therapy, and this exercise integrates well with other treatments.

Diagnosing OCD Symptoms

OCD symptoms include persistent, intrusive thoughts and compulsions. The thoughts, which are actually cognitive distortions, often surround themes of germs or contamination, harm, or symmetry.

The compulsions the patient acts on are a direct response to the mental compulsions. These symptoms include excessive cleaning, repeatedly checking on things, or counting.

For an accurate diagnosis, a mental health professional will conduct an assessment of the frequency and intensity of the intrusive thoughts and response behaviors. They’ll also consider how much the symptoms have interfered with patient life quality.

Causes of OCD Obsessions and Compulsions

Research has not pinpointed the exact mechanism that causes OCD. However, they believe that some contributing factors are:

Genetics and Experiencing Cognitive Distortions

Some believe that OCD runs in family members. Those with a family history of OCD may also feel compelled by similar triggers.

‘Ana’ always checked and rechecked her door locks at night, a habit learned from her mother and grandmother. After realizing her beliefs about an impending break-in were unfounded, she began to see the problem with this behavior and worried she’d pass it to her children. She got professional help from Icarus and made tremendous progress. She now sensibly checks the locks before bed each night and goes to sleep without distress.

Environmental Factors That May Cause Obsessive Thoughts

Traumatic life events or extreme stress may contribute to the development of OCD symptoms in those predisposed to mental compulsions.

After being involved in a car wreck, ‘Tiana’ had extreme fear and uncertainty about her future safety. She came for outpatient treatment at Icarus and worked on facing her unfounded fears in CBT. Tiana continues attending a local OCD support group but has learned to identify real threats from false ones.

Individual Temperament and OCD

Those with OCD may share specific personality traits, such as avoidant personality types.

Johnny avoided facing his anxiety at all costs. He has an extreme fear of getting sick and found even his own home disgusting. He would fill hours every day making a chore list and cleaning. When Johnny came to Icarus, he learned to confront and challenge his fears and focus on what was actually important in life.

How Common is OCD?

While OCD can be difficult to track, the prevalence is relatively small. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that about 2.3% of American adults will struggle with obsessive-compulsive disorder at some point in their lives.

While the number of 1 in 50 Americans having OCD may seem slight, the disease impacts each person differently. The impact of OCD on lives should never be dismissed.

OCD Treatment Effectiveness

Besides exposure and response prevention (which we discussed in our worksheets), there are several other examples of effective treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Every Icarus New Mexico client’s treatment program is personalized and holistic. The progress is almost tangible as we help increase resilience and motivation while reducing disruptive feelings and thoughts.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, is beneficial for clients trying to manage OCD. The therapist guides you as you identify and then challenges irrational beliefs or thoughts. The goal of cognitive behavioral therapy is to reduce the impact of irrational feelings, thoughts, or obsessions.

Medication Treatment Options for OCD

For some clients, medication is an effective way to care for OCD. Clinicians often prescribe Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), which are clinically proven to reduce the intensity of the obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms. Prescribed medication can be the perfect partner for psychotherapy and coping skills training.

Mindfulness Training or OCD Symptoms

The concept of mindfulness is simple – it allows clients to observe their present thoughts and feelings in real-time without judgment. This form of complementary therapy becomes a valuable coping tool that allows clients to observe their obsessions without acting on them immediately.

You might learn one or more mindfulness techniques, including meditation, deep breathing, or yoga.

Icarus Accepts Many Forms of Health Insurance and Private-Pay Clients

Icarus accepts the most popular group and individual health programs, several forms of NM Medicaid and Turquoise Care, and military health benefits from TRICARE and TriWest. We also work with self-pay clients.

If your resources are limited and dost is holding you back from seeking therapy, call our insurance coordinator. We will collect your personal insurance information and call your insurer for you.

We will fill in any form they send and get accurate and complete information on all costs of getting the therapy you need. You will have no costly surprises!

Call Icarus for OCD Treatment Support Programs

An individual struggling with OCD can face a wide range of daily challenges – from minor interruptions to severe behaviors that hold them back from making progress toward their life goals. Our OCD worksheets are a starting point – a tool to fill in and valuable information to share with your treatment provider.

If you need CBT or exposure therapy, please connect with Icarus New Mexico. We’re glad to share information on our full range of effective mental health programs. We are here to provide you with the support your recovery needs. Call our admissions representatives today.

All calls are confidential, so please reach out for support options now.