Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Treatment

What Is OCD?

OCD is a mental health disorder that causes intense anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and repetitive behavior. There are two main hallmarks to OCD: obsessions and compulsions.

Obsessions are uncontrollable, unwanted thoughts that may enter your mind many times each day. These could be fears that something bad will happen to yourself or your loved ones, intrusive images of violence, worries about germs or contamination, or any other unpleasant idea that causes fear or discomfort.

Compulsions are behaviors you feel you must complete to make the obsessive thoughts go away. Sometimes, OCD compulsions are logically connected to the obsession. For example, you might frequently wash your hands in response to your fear of contamination. In other cases, though, the compulsion appears to have little to do with the obsessive thought. Compulsions can be physical, observable behaviors, or they can be mental rituals such as counting or repeating a sequence of words in your mind.

Symptoms of OCD

Because obsessions and compulsions can vary so significantly between different people with OCD, recognizing the symptoms of the disorder can be difficult. To be clinically diagnosed with OCD, you must experience obsessions, compulsions, or both. Additionally, these obsessions and compulsions must either take more than an hour per day or cause notable distress in your daily functioning.

The following are some of the most common symptoms of obsessions:

• Need for order or symmetry

• Fear of contamination

• Unwanted thoughts about violent, religious, or sexual subjects

• Fears of harming yourself or others

• Thoughts that feel intrusive and undesired

• Thoughts that result in extreme distress and anxiety

The following are some of the most common symptoms of compulsions:

• Frequently washing your hands to ease your anxiety about germs or dirt

• Putting items in a specific order

• Constantly checking that your door is locked or your oven is turned off

• Counting or repeating words in your mind to get rid of an intrusive thought or image

• Turning the light on and off or walking up and down the stairs a certain number of times because it reduces your anxiety

Types of OCD

No two people have exactly the same experience with OCD. There are several different forms of this mental health condition, so your obsessions and compulsions could manifest in a variety of ways. Some people struggle with multiple forms of OCD all at once, some experience alternating types of OCD, and some deal with just one form of OCD.

The following are the main forms of OCD:

Contamination

Obsessions about contamination may lead to compulsive hand-washing, cleaning, or avoiding public places. People with contamination OCD are terrified of becoming sick, infecting others, or coming into contact with germs or bacteria.

Organization and symmetry

Also known as the "just right" OCD, this type of OCD causes an obsession with putting things in a certain order or making sure something is symmetrical. Sometimes, the "just right" order only makes sense to the person with OCD, but they get a sense of relief from arranging things in this way.

Checking

Common examples of this form of OCD include checking that the doors and windows are locked, the stove is off, or candles are extinguished. Sometimes, checking OCD is closely linked to fears of harming someone. For example, you might turn around while driving to check that the bump you hit was just a pothole and not a person.

Intrusive thoughts and rumination

This type of OCD occurs mostly within your mind, so it might not be obvious to those around you. Intrusive thoughts and ruminations are thoughts, images, or ideas that enter your mind and cause discomfort or distress. You might see violent or graphic pictures in your mind's eye, or you might dwell on religious or spiritual topics far longer than is typical. In some cases, people with this form of OCD engage in mental rituals to try to erase the unwanted thoughts or images.

Hoarding

An inability to discard old, broken, or useless items is a common form of OCD. While hoarding disorder is now classified as its own condition separate from OCD, its symptoms are very similar. You may feel paralyzed by indecisiveness when trying to decide whether or not to throw something away, or you might worry that you'll accidentally throw away something that you need.

Treatment for OCD

Your symptoms may wax and wane with time, but OCD is usually a lifelong disorder. Professional support is essential for getting your symptoms under control and learning how to cope with your obsessions and compulsions. Fortunately, even the most severe cases of OCD are treatable with therapy, medication, or both.

Psychotherapy can help you gain a better understanding of the thought processes behind your OCD. One of the most effective forms of therapy for OCD is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which encourages you to explore the relationship between your thoughts, your emotions, and your behaviors. In CBT, you learn to identify the unhealthy or unhelpful thinking patterns that cause distress. Over time, you'll replace these negative thinking habits with positive, constructive thoughts.

Another common OCD treatment is exposure and response prevention (ERP), which gradually exposes you to your OCD triggers in a safe, supportive environment. By facing your obsessions head-on with the help of a therapist, you'll slowly but surely overcome your need to engage in your compulsions.

Medication prescribed by a psychiatrist can also help to reduce your OCD symptoms. SRIs and SSRIs are the most common types of medications for OCD patients, but your psychiatrist will consider your unique symptoms and treatment history to determine the best medication for you. The best approach to treatment involves a combination of therapy and medication with a reputable mental healthcare provider.

We’re Available to You

OCD can be a devastating mental illness, but you don't have to let it control your life. Spark Wellness Group provides psychiatric treatment for individuals with OCD in Orlando, Florida. Our board-certified psychiatrists have extensive experience with OCD, and we understand how important it is to provide compassionate, evidence-based treatment. If you're struggling with OCD, you can reach out to us today to schedule a consultation.