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