OCD Cycle Worksheet Overview
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) often follows a repetitive cycle called the “cycle of OCD.” This cycle begins with a trigger, which can be either internal (like emotions, memories, or sensory experiences) or external (such as social situations, specific places, or disruptions in routine). Once a trigger occurs, the first phase of the cycle starts with obsessions. Obsessions are intrusive, distressing thoughts that create anxiety or discomfort.
To relieve this distress, someone with OCD moves into the next phase: compulsions. Compulsions are actions or mental rituals aimed at reducing the uncomfortable feelings caused by obsessions. After completing these compulsions, there’s a sense of temporary relief until the next trigger arises, restarting the cycle.
This worksheet will help you understand and work towards overcoming how the OCD cycle plays out in your own experience by taking you through the following steps:
- Identifying Your Triggers
- Identifying Your Obsession/Intrusive Thought
- Identifying the Emotions Related to Your Obsessions
- Understanding the Compulsions
- Learning How to Break the Cycle
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Salkovskis, P. M. (1985). Obsessional-compulsive problems: A cognitive-behavioural analysis. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 23(5), 571-583. https://doi.org/10.1016/0005-7967(85)90105-6
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Abramowitz, J. S., Taylor, S., & McKay, D. (2009). Obsessive-compulsive disorder. The Lancet, 374(9688), 491-499. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(09)60240-3
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Öst, L.-G., Havnen, A., Hansen, B., & Kvale, G. (2015). Cognitive behavioral treatments of obsessive-compulsive disorder. A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies published 1993-2014. Clinical Psychology Review, 40, 156-169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2015.06.003
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National Institute of Mental Health. (2024). Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd
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