Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a complex disorder with many potential signs and symptoms. However, the most common signs and symptoms of OCD are obsessions, compulsions, and anxiety.
Obsessions are intrusive thoughts that a person experiences as unwanted, while compulsions are repetitive behaviors a person performs in an effort to reduce the anxiety related to their obsessions. Additionally, anxiety is a common symptom of OCD, where people experience significant anxiety related to their obsessions and compulsions.
While many people experience OCD throughout their lives, many effective treatments are available, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) that can help manage and reduce symptoms of OCD. Early intervention and treatment are important for managing the symptoms of OCD and reducing distress related to the condition.
The good news about OCD is that it’s treatable. You don’t have to just learn to live with it. After receiving a professional diagnosis, comfort can be found in the fact that there are a variety of treatments available.
Psychotherapy for OCD
For many people with OCD, CBT, a form of psychotherapy, is successful. As part of CBT, exposure and response prevention (EX/RP) entails gradually exposing you to a feared object or fixation, like dirt, and teaching you how to manage the temptation to carry out your compulsive rituals. EX/RP therapy has been shown to effectively treat OCD in conjunction with other therapies. While it may require work and practice, CBT can help you control your compulsions and obsessions and experience a higher quality of life.
Residential Treatment
Treatment facilities like The Guest House offer extensive outpatient and inpatient rehab services. People with OCD who struggle to function due to the severity of their symptoms may benefit from comprehensive treatment programs that stress EX/RP therapy concepts.
In addition, treatment offers an abundance of access to individual and group therapies, both of which have been shown to help mitigate the symptoms of OCD. These courses usually run for several weeks and offer a safe place to start on the path to wellness.
Medications for OCD
While the idea of medications might seem daunting, they can offer assistance with OCD symptoms when prescribed by a licensed medical practitioner. These medications sometimes have side effects. However, as long as you’re open with your medical practitioners, you can curb any negative results at their outset.
OCD is treatable. While there isn’t a cure for it, there is a remedy for all of the symptoms and anxiety that come along with it. Treatment is widely available, and the options for it can be designed around your needs. Help is available. All you have to do is ask for it.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can be life-limiting. Often those who struggle with it end up missing out on many of life’s pleasures because they’ve been held back by uncontrollable routines that demand endless amounts of their free time. However, it doesn’t have to be this way. Many treatment options are available. Places like The Guest House specialize in offering treatment for OCD. With the right kind of help and your willingness, OCD doesn’t have to control your life any longer. Call (855) 483-7800 for more information.