What to Do if You or Your Loved One is Diagnosed with OCD
What OCD is, The Next Steps, Finding Treatment
What is OCD?
OCD, or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, is characterized by intrusive thoughts or obsessions that lead to repetitive behaviors or compulsions. OCD can be very distressing and can significantly impact an individual’s daily life, including their work, relationships, and social activities. It affects individuals of all ages, and its severity can vary widely. There are many different types of OCD and individuals often have more than one type.
Know that you or your loved one is not alone in this diagnosis. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health disorder that affects 1-2% of the population and many of our staff struggled personally with OCD and have been in recovery for years. Remember, there is no shame in seeking help for OCD. Treatment can help you manage your symptoms and live a happy and fulfilling life.
Obsessions
Obsessions are unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images, or urges that cause significant anxiety or distress. Common obsessions include fears of contamination, fears of harm coming to oneself or others, and unwanted taboo thoughts among many others.
Compulsions
Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts that an individual feels driven to perform in response to an obsession or according to rigid rules. The purpose of these behaviors is often to reduce anxiety or prevent a feared event, but they are not connected in a realistic way to the event or are excessive. Common compulsions include excessive cleaning or handwashing, checking things repeatedly, counting, and arranging items in a particular way among many others. Sometimes, there are no physical compulsions and instead individuals are doing mental compulsions. This is called Pure O OCD, or Purely Obsessional OCD, and those who suffer from this type of OCD manage the anxiety caused by their obsessions by engaging in mental rituals such as excessive rumination, reassurance-seeking, mental reviewing, or repeating certain phrases, actions, or prayers in their minds.
Avoidance
Individuals with OCD may also engage in avoidance behaviors in order to avoid triggering their OCD. These avoidance behaviors can cause significant detrimental effects on their daily lives and relationships.
What are my Next Steps?
If you or your loved one has been diagnosed with OCD, a good first step is to learn about OCD to understand the condition better. This helps you not only learn more about OCD, but also be better prepared for deciding how you would like to move forward. Some ideas for how to learn more about OCD include watching TedTalks, reading books about OCD, listening to podcasts, and researching online. It can also involve chat forums where people post their questions and talk about their diagnoses and experiences but remember, chat forums are helpful for education and community but are not for personal medical advice and you should talk to a provider before making any medical or therapeutic decisions.
Another important step is to decide what type or types of treatment would work best for you or your loved one. Treatments can involve options such as medications, therapies, and lifestyle changes and often involves more than one. It is important to decide which would be best for you or your loved ones needs.
Medications
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly prescribed and can help reduce the intensity of obsessive thoughts. It is important to work closely with a healthcare provider, preferably a psychiatrist, to find the right medication and dosage. The process might involve some trial and error and it is important to take the medication as prescribed, even if you start to feel better. Stopping medication abruptly can lead to withdrawal symptoms and a return of OCD symptoms.
Therapies
There are many different types of therapies that can be done in many different ways to treat OCD. OCD therapy can be conducted in a one-on-one setting, with a group, or all alone with the guidance of a therapist. Also, it can be done in person or through telehealth. It can be done on its own or congruently with medication.
Lifestyle Changes
Certain lifestyles can contribute to OCD symptoms. A provider might recommend engaging in lifestyle changes such as regular exercise, a balanced diet, and adequate sleep as these changes can positively impact your mental health. This can also include avoiding excessive alcohol and drug use, as these can worsen OCD symptoms.
For more information, you can go to our post “Types of OCD Treatment“.
How do I Find Treatment for OCD?
When looking for treatment for OCD, there are many treatment options. The best treatment for you or your loved one will depend on the severity of the symptoms, how much they are impacting you or your loved ones life, and the preference for treatment. Some people with OCD respond well to medication, while others prefer a more holistic approach such as therapy or self-help groups. The most important part of looking for treatment is finding a treatment plan that works for you or your loved ones needs.
If you’re not sure where to start, you can search for “treatment for OCD near me” to find a list of treatment providers in your area. You can also ask your doctor for recommendations. There are also many helpful websites that can provide more information on finding OCD help near you including the International OCD Foundation’ssearch for providers database. This can be located at https://iocdf.org/. On their home page, they have a “Find Help” box that you can put your location into and receive a list of therapists and facilities that offer OCD treatment.
While speaking with providers about potential treatment, it is important to advocate for yourself and speak openly about what you are experiencing. Let them know what your needs and preferences are and if necessary, seek a second opinion or change therapists if you feel your current treatment isn’t working for you.
What Types of Therapy Programs Exist for OCD?
When looking for OCD therapy, it is important to first consider what level of OCD treatment you are looking for. Someone with more mild to moderate OCD is most likely a fit for outpatient weekly sessions with a therapist or group. Someone with more severe symptoms of OCD might be a better fit for an intensive outpatient program, a partial hospitalization program, or in particularly severe cases, residential treatment. Every program can be done a little bit differently, even if it sounds similar, so it is important to research how the therapy is done in the program and what the needs are of you or your loved one to ensure you are picking one that is the right fit. For more information on this, read our blog post OCD Treatment: What It Is, How It’s Done, and OCD Therapy Options for a deeper dive into how to decide which program is best.
What Types of Therapies are Best for OCD?
When looking for therapy for OCD, it is important to find a therapist or facility that specializes in the treatment of OCD. Therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy are commonly used to treat OCD. Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is a highly effective form of CBT for treating OCD and it involves gradually exposing the client to their fears (obsessions) and refraining from performing their usual compulsions. When looking for OCD therapy, it is important to find a provider who is trained in using ERP to treat OCD even when looking in a group setting. Other therapies such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Mindfulness Based Behavioral Therapy are often used to treat OCD among several more.
It is important to remember that everyone is different and there is no perfect way to treat OCD that will work for everyone. OCD treatment can be done in many different ways and it is important to find what works best for you or your loved ones needs.
Moving Forward
OCD can be a debilitating condition that interferes with daily life, so much so that it has been recognized as one of the top ten most debilitating conditions in the world according to The World Health Organization. Therefore, if you or someone you know is struggling with OCD, it is important to seek out professional help. Proper treatment can help you or your loved one manage their OCD symptoms and begin the journey to recovery.
Source
The International OCD Foundation. (2022). Retrieved 29 July 2024, from https://iocdf.org
Learn MoreTraveling for OCD Treatment
No OCD Treatment Near You? What is Next?
When looking for treatment for OCD, it is important to find someone who specializes in treating OCD. General therapists can be helpful, but OCD typically requires specialized care which can be hard to find. When there are no therapists who specialize in treating OCD in your area, it can be disheartening but traveling to receive specialized OCD treatment is extremely common. Many facilities are familiar with offering treatment to clients from outside of the state and outside of the country.
How do I Know if it is Time to Travel?
When looking for OCD Treatment, it is important to find a facility or clinician near you that specializes in treating OCD and that is trained to use Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) to treat OCD. If you are not finding therapists near you that specialize in treating OCD or are not trained in using ERP, it may be time to consider traveling to find a therapist or facility that does. Also, many therapists offer weekly treatment sessions that are usually around an hour long to treat OCD but for those with more severe symptoms of OCD, this may not be enough. If you are looking for a higher level of care such as an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), or residential treatment for OCD, and the programs that are in your area do not offer treatment specifically for OCD, it is likely time to consider traveling for OCD treatment.
What It Means: Outpatient Therapy, IOP, PHP, Residential, Inpatient
If a client is engaging in outpatient therapy, it means they spend most of their time away from the treatment facility. Traditional weekly meetings with a therapist is the lowest level of outpatient care we offer at our facility and is considered outpatient therapy. An Intensive Outpatient Program, or IOP, is a higher level of care than traditional outpatient therapy and the highest level of care we offer at our facility. IOPs vary in how they are offered depending on the facility and what they are treating but it usually involves several hours a week, usually multiple times a week meeting one-on-one with a therapist or with a group. The client spends most of their time away from the facility but still engages in multiple hours of therapy multiple days a week. A Partial Hospitalization Program, or PHP, offers a higher level of care than an IOP and usually involves the client attending the facility for a significant portion of the day and week while still living at home. It usually involves the client attending the therapy for 5-8 hours a day, around 4-5 days a week. Residential treatment involves the client staying overnight and living at the facility and involves being in a care facility for 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This can last anywhere between a few weeks to several months depending on the program and the level of care the client needs. A residential program is an Inpatient program. Inpatient means that the client is staying overnight at the facility during the duration of their treatment.
How to Narrow your Search
When looking for treatment for OCD, it is important to decide what level of care you are looking for as explained in the section above. The more severe the symptoms you or your loved one is experiencing, the higher the recommended level of care. If you are not sure, many facilities do assessments where you can discuss what you are experiencing with a clinician and they can offer guidance based on their professional opinion. Also, if you or your loved one is currently receiving care from a licensed therapist or psychologist, they will oftentimes be able to provide guidance in regards to what level of care to look for. Once you have decided the level of care you are looking for, you can start looking for programs. Oftentimes programs have qualifying requirements that clients must fit in order to be considered for their program. For example, certain facilities only work with certain age ranges of clients such as only adolescents ages 13-17 or only clients ages 18+. It is important to find out these requirements and make sure you or your loved one is within these parameters when deciding what facility to attend. The International OCD Foundation website has a list of OCD specialists from across the US where you can narrow your search based on your specific parameters.
How do I Know Where to Go?
It is important to consider what you are looking for in regards to how treatment is done as treatment can involve group therapy, all one-on-one therapy, or a mix of both. Outside of group and individual therapy, some programs involve the client spending time alone in a room doing work provided to them by a clinician without a group or a therapist with them during a portion of their time at the facility while a clinician checks on them regularly. Residential treatment can sometimes include attending school sessions while at the facility if it is a child and adolescent facility along with dietitian recommendations, exercise, reading, music time, and other types of treatment. Also, some facilities have psychiatrists on staff to offer medication management while the clients are attending treatment. While programs can offer similar treatments, programs are rarely the same in what they offer and how they treat clients so one program may be a much better fit for a client than another program.
It is important to note how the therapy is done as well. Some programs are able to be done through telehealth sessions, and some involve going off facility grounds to engage in other types of therapies such as visits to public places or visits to areas out in nature. Because of all the different ways therapy for OCD can be done and the ways it can vary between treatment programs and facilities, check with the facility you are looking into to find out how their therapy works and what a typical day or week of doing the program at their facility looks like so you can find what best fits you or your loved ones needs.
Finally, costs vary among programs as well and it is important to consider your needs financially as well as therapeutically. Some programs will take insurance while many are out of network for all insurance providers. When looking for programs, consider the financial commitment you are able to make as costs range greatly between programs and facilities.
Travel Guidance
Oftentimes, when you are traveling to attend a facility, they are able to offer guidance in regards to hotels in the area, local airports, and even things to do when not attending treatment. Our facility offers a physical travel guide as do some other facilities and usually if you call the facility, the person that answers the call is able to provide recommendations as well. When making the commitment to treatment, it may be helpful to ask the clinicians at the facility if they have recommendations as the recommendations can greatly reduce the stress associated with traveling and allow you or your loved one to focus solely on treatment.
Needing Advice or Support?
Traveling to receive OCD treatment can be an emotional process and it is hard to decide what to do and where to go but there are many people out there who have done it and are able to offer advice and encouragement. There are many chat forums where people can go for advice and assistance from people who have traveled for treatment themselves. Clients may feel alone but it is actually quite common to travel to seek a higher level of care in a different state or somewhere abroad and because of that, there are many people who have done it and want to help the process feel more comfortable for others who are looking to do so in the future. Looking for advice in places like Reddit, Quora, Skool, and other chat forums may be helpful as many people share personal and anecdotal tips and experiences but remember, chat forums are helpful for education and community but are not for personal medical advice and you should talk to a provider before making any medical or therapeutic decisions.
Help is Near
Traveling for OCD treatment can be stressful but also extremely rewarding when you or your loved one is able to finally receive the help that is needed. There are so many facilities that are able to offer specialized OCD treatment and it is important to find one that is the right fit even if it is not nearby.
Source
The International OCD Foundation. (2022). Retrieved 29 July 2024, from https://iocdf.org
Learn MoreHow To Find OCD Treatment Near Me
How to Find OCD Treatment Facilities Near Me or How to Find an OCD Therapist Near Me
What is OCD?
OCD, or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, is a mental health condition that causes repetitive and intrusive thoughts, impulses, or images. There are many different types and sub-types of OCD so it can present in many different ways. OCD can be a debilitating condition that interferes with daily life, so much so that it has been recognized as one of the top ten most debilitating conditions in the world according to The World Health Organization. Therefore, if you or someone you know is struggling with OCD, it is important to seek out professional help.
How to Start to Find OCD Treatment / Looking for Treatment For OCD Near Me
There are many treatment options for OCD. The best treatment for you or your loved one will depend on the severity of the symptoms, how much they are impacting you or your loved ones life, and the preference for treatment. Some people with OCD respond well to medication, while others prefer a more holistic approach such as therapy or self-help groups. The most important part of looking for treatment is finding a treatment plan that works for you or your loved ones needs.
If you’re not sure where to start, you can search for “treatment for OCD near me” to find a list of treatment providers in your area. You can also ask your doctor for recommendations. There are also many helpful websites that can provide more information on finding OCD help near you including the International OCD Foundation’s search for providers database. This can be located at https://iocdf.org/. On their home page, they have a “Find Help” box that you can put your location into and receive a list of therapists and facilities that offer OCD treatment.
Once you have options, reach out to the providers and see the types of treatments they offer and how they conduct their treatments. There are so many different ways OCD treatment is offered so it is best to look at several options before deciding what is best for you or your loved one. Remember, there is no shame in seeking help for OCD. Treatment can help you manage your symptoms and live a happy and fulfilling life.
Finally, while speaking with providers about potential treatment, it is important to advocate for yourself and speak openly about what you or your loved one is experiencing. Let them know what your needs and preferences are and if necessary, seek a second opinion or change therapists if you feel your current treatment isn’t working for you.
Find an OCD Treatment Center Near Me
There are many OCD treatment centers across the country that can provide you or your loved one with the help needed to manage OCD symptoms. To find an OCD treatment center near you, we recommend searching online or talking to your doctor. Once you have found a few potential OCD treatment centers near you, doing some research on each one and calling and speaking with representatives at the facility can help you decide which one is the best fit for you or your loved one.
Sometimes there will not be facilities that offer the treatment that you are looking for in your area. If you are wondering what to do if there are no OCD treatment centers in your area, know that in situations such as this, it is extremely common for those looking for treatment to travel to the facility that best fits their needs.
When researching OCD treatment centers, be sure to read reviews and look at the credentials of the staff. Once you have found an OCD treatment center that you feel comfortable with, you can begin your journey to recovery.
Find OCD Intensive Treatment Near Me
Depending on the level of severity of OCD that you or your loved one is suffering from, an intensive treatment program for OCD could be needed in order to end the OCD cycle. Outpatient treatments for OCD can be very effective and there are many different types of outpatient treatment available, so it is important to find one that is right for you or your loved one.
The first step is to research the different types of outpatient treatment available. You can talk to your doctor or therapist about the different options if you have a current provider or you can research online. Once you have an idea of the different types of outpatient treatment available, you can start to look for an OCD Intensive Outpatient Program near you. There are many resources available online that can help you find an OCD Intensive near you. You can also talk to your doctor or therapist about referrals. With a little research, you should be able to find an Intensive Outpatient Program for OCD that is right for you.
Find An OCD Specialist/OCD Therapist Near Me
There are many resources available to those who need OCD help and it is important to find a qualified therapist that specializes in treating OCD. There are many ways to find a therapist including online directories, online forums, and word-of-mouth recommendations.
When looking for treatment for OCD, it is important to find a therapist who specializes in treating OCD using ERP. ERP, or Exposure and Response Prevention, is a type of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy that is an effective way of treating OCD.
Once you have found a few potential therapists, make sure to research their qualifications and experience treating OCD. It is also important to find a therapist who you feel comfortable with and who understands your specific needs. If you are not sure where to start, there are many helpful websites that can provide more information on finding OCD help near you including the International OCD Foundation’s search for providers database. This can be located at https://iocdf.org/. On their home page, they have a “Find Help” box that you can put your location into and receive a list of therapists and facilities that offer OCD treatment.
Find ERP Therapy Near Me
ERP therapy, also known as Exposure and Response Prevention therapy, is a type of treatment that can be used to help people who suffer from anxiety disorders. ERP is considered the ‘gold standard therapy’ for OCD and related conditions.
ERP therapy works by helping people to gradually expose themselves to the things that trigger their anxiety, while at the same time learning to control their reaction to those triggers. ERP therapy is usually provided by a licensed mental health professional, such as a therapist or psychologist.
If you are interested in finding ERP therapy near you, there are a few different ways that you can go about doing so. One option is to ask your current therapist or primary care physician for a referral. Another option is to search for ERP therapists in your area online. Finally, you can also contact your insurance company to see if they have any ERP providers in their network.
The Best Way to Find OCD Therapists Near Me
One of the best ways to find someone that specializes in treating OCD is by utilizing the International OCD Foundation’s search for providers database. This can be located at https://iocdf.org/. There you will be able to search for a local provider and if needed, refine your search so that you can see who in your area offers care through insurance, OCD support groups, or other intensive treatment programs for OCD. Just enter your zip code and hit search and you will be able to find therapists near you that specialize in treating OCD.
Finding OCD Treatment
Finding OCD treatment can be a tough process but it is important to find treatment that is the best fit for the needs of you or your loved one. Researching the options available in your area is an important step to getting the treatment you or your loved one needs and beginning your journey to recovery.
Sources
The International OCD Foundation. (2022). Retrieved 28 September 2022, from https://iocdf.org
World Health Organization (WHO). (2022). Retrieved 28 September 2022, from https://www.who.int
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