Harm OCD S2 C1: Introduction to the twelve pillars of recovery

               Recovery in Harm OCD is not just a matter of getting medicines, popping pills and being done with it. Recovery from Harm OCD requires a change – a lifestyle change. People may not put any special efforts at learning about the disorder and trying to get better. It is understandable, but not acceptable. Understandable because recovery in Harm OCD requires changing habits that seem impossible to change. Even for people without Harm OCD, creating new habits is difficult. With Harm OCD to stand in the way it is many times more difficult. So, it is understandable.

But it is not acceptable because unless you make specific efforts Harm OCD may either remain at the same level of severity or end up getting significantly worse. So, change is important. Recovery would thus require you to adopt a few new habits and break a few old ones.

There are twelve pillars of recovery from OCD as shown in figure 2.1. Working with these twelve pillars will speed up your recovery process. The first two pillars to recovery are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and ERP. The next five pillars have the acronym MAGIC (mindfulness, acceptance, gratitude, insight, compassion). The next four pillars are diet, sleep, exercise and supplements. The twelfth pillar is medicines. Out of these twelve pillars, this course book will largely focus on the first seven pillars, i.e., CBT, ERP, mindfulness, acceptance, gratitude, insight and compassion, but will touch upon the other five pillars as well.

Figure 2.1: The Twelve Pillars of Recovery