OCD and results from IOP

Hello,

This week, I started an Intensive Outpatient Program for Anxiety for my OCD, which has gotten to levels that interfere with my daily living. The program covers group therapy for all types of anxiety, and years ago I attended the same program to help me conquer Panic Disorder, which I am proud to say was extremely life saving for me (it's been almost 5 years since my last panic attack).

I am finding conquring OCD to be much tougher than Panic Disorder, however, and though it's only been the first week, I have mixed feelings on my results so far (I am fighting a fear of germs and chemicals). Therapy basically consists of reviewing your homework assignments (in my case, limiting the number of times I can wash my hands, etc), group activities, and then more assignments for the next day.

Have any of you out there attended anything like this for your OCD? If so, what kind of results did you get? Did you find the group therapy sessions beneficial? Just looking for some feedback from anyone that has been through this.

Thanks to all who respond.

I'm on a waiting list for just such a program as well. I've heard mixed things from different people, so I'm curious too if anyone with experience cares to share what goes on there, what to expect, how to get the most out of it, your own final take away, etc.

Tomorrow 8/12/16, I will have completed my 2nd week in the program. You are given homework to do outside the program to test your anxieties and you have to report back the next day on the results. There are mindfulness exercises done, and other "games" to help you learn to manage your anxiety. Everyone in my group is in for something combined with panic disorder, and I am the only one in there for OCD. While I have reduced my hand washing a little bit, it's far more difficult for me to do the home work on the OCD than it was for panic. My biggest issue is that the focus is on the group, and I've met once with a nurse, psychiatrist, and the leader of the group sessions, but they all asked me the same exact questions... I was like, aren't you people sharing info? All that, and my insurance only pays half, so this is going to get expensive real quick.

Thanks for the insight, hope you get someone to answer your question as well.