Obsessional Slowness

Obsessional slowness is a commonly misunderstood form of OCD that often presents around showering, getting dressed, or preparing to leave the house.  Basic daily tasks must be done with a deliberateness that often leads to excruciating prep time (s.a. morning routines that begin at 5am) or chronic lateness or truancy.  

Obsessional slowness often comes from the OCD compulsion to not stop until something is “just right.” 

This sense of rightness is ephemeral and fleeting.  When “just right” OCD is in play, the goal is not to get the task done and move on.  

Putting time pressure on obsessional slowness can actually have the opposite effect.  A person can be even slower because they feel that the “rightness” is still the goal but now they are making more mistakes because they are rushed.   

The focus of the habituation for this ERP skill is actually “doing it wrong.”  Time spent on the task will be a helpful by-product of less deliberateness.  In a self-led exposure, the goal would be to lessen the time spent on each task by 2 minutes per day. 

To obtain obsessive slowness monitoring forms and further Exposure training, please contact Kairos Wellness Collective.