When Fear Controls Everything
Fear is a natural human emotion, but for millions of Americans, it becomes something far more debilitating – a prison that restricts their ability to live, work, and connect with others. A recent article in Deseret News highlights the profound impact that conditions like OCD, anxiety, and PTSD can have on everyday life, and more importantly, shows that effective treatment can help individuals reclaim their lives.
For Leah Pisciotta of San Jose, California, agoraphobia has been a lifelong struggle. She has never driven more than 15 miles from her home by herself and has lost numerous job opportunities because of her condition. “It’s basically ruined my whole life as far as doing things and holding down jobs,” Pisciotta explained. Her story illustrates how debilitating phobias can severely limit one’s life experiences and opportunities.
But agoraphobia is just one manifestation of how fear can disrupt lives. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is another condition that’s frequently misunderstood.
OCD Goes Beyond Stereotypes
OCD isn’t just about cleanliness or organization as commonly portrayed in media. It involves “uncontrollable and recurring thoughts (obsessions), repetitive and excessive behaviors (compulsions) or both,” according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
Jenny Kempton, a licensed clinical social worker from Arizona featured in the Deseret News article, experiences religious scrupulosity, a form of OCD. Even missing her scripture study by just one minute caused extreme fear that “something bad’s gonna happen” or that she might “go to heck.” What appears to be healthy habits – like exercising daily or practicing gratitude – became rigid compulsions that controlled her life rather than enhanced it.
Evidence-Based Treatment Makes a Difference
The treatment approach at OCD Anxiety Centers focuses on addressing the root cause rather than just managing symptoms. “We don’t talk people better,” explains Paul Peterson, founder and CEO of OCD Anxiety Centers. “We do not explore their past. What we know is they have a malfunction in their brain, and so we’ve created a system to help change what’s happening in their brain.”
This approach aligns perfectly with what we know about OCD treatment at our program. As the nation’s foremost intensive outpatient program for treating OCD, anxiety, and related diagnoses, OCD Anxiety Centers utilizes structured, evidence-based treatments delivered in an intensive format — three hours per day, five days a week.
The cornerstone of this treatment is Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), the gold standard for treating OCD and anxiety disorders. Through ERP, clients gradually confront their fears without performing compulsions, effectively retraining their brains to tolerate anxiety without relying on unhealthy behaviors.
Real Results, Real Lives Changed
The effectiveness of this approach is evident in the success stories shared in the Deseret News article and reflected in our program outcomes. OCD Anxiety Centers boasts a 73% reduction in symptoms through its treatment program this quarter, according to Peterson. Similarly, our data shows an average 64% reduction in symptoms for clients who complete the program — the highest rate of symptom reduction in the country.
Kempton made such tremendous progress through the program that she graduated early, in just eight weeks. “I felt like I was free,” she said.
Another success story comes from Kristynn Bellamy, who suffered from PTSD following an abusive marriage. Prior to treatment, she couldn’t even stand near windows out of fear her ex-husband might see her. Through exposure therapy at OCD Anxiety Centers, she gradually confronted her fears by looking at a wedding photo she had previously avoided. “While looking at the photo, she’d let herself ‘feel all the feels,'” the article notes. Through these exposures, her hate and fear dissipated.
The Program That Changes Lives
What makes the treatment at OCD Anxiety Centers so effective is its comprehensive, intensive approach. The program includes:
- Individual therapy sessions with a primary therapist
- Exposure/skill practice groups
- Specialty skills groups
- Process groups
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills groups
Family involvement is also crucial to the recovery process. The program actively encourages family participation to enhance the support system for clients, recognizing that families play a vital role in recovery.
“It will change the trajectory of their life,” Peterson emphasized about the program.
Living With Uncertainty
One of the most powerful concepts taught at OCD Anxiety Centers is embracing uncertainty. Bellamy now tries to live by the center’s motto: “Live uncertain.” “I’m just jumping, and that’s what I learned is just to jump,” she said.
This philosophy is transformative for those with anxiety and OCD, who often seek absolute certainty to feel safe. By learning to tolerate and even embrace uncertainty, clients can break free from the rigid patterns that have controlled their lives.
Hope for Those Still Struggling
If you or someone you love is trapped by debilitating fears, know that effective treatment is available. With locations in California, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Arizona, OCD Anxiety Centers offers accessible treatment with 95% of clients able to use insurance.
As Bellamy so powerfully expressed, “There is always hope, and I felt so completely broken, so completely unworthy of anything. I didn’t think that I deserved to be fixed. I didn’t deserve to find happiness or anything like that. And I know there’s others that feel that way, too, and it’s just not true.”
Don’t let fear control your life any longer. Whether it’s for yourself or for the loved ones who deserve a healthier you, taking that first step toward treatment can be the beginning of reclaiming the life you were meant to live.
To learn more about how our evidence-based program can help you or a loved one break free from OCD, anxiety, or related conditions, contact OCD Anxiety Centers today.
