Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
OCD is a mental health condition that can be severely debilitating. It involves fixating on obsessions, such as the fear of being infected by germs, which lead to compulsions, ritualistic patterns of behavior that ease the stress of the obsession.
Fortunately, effective treatments for OCD are available at Elevated Healing Treatment Centers in Woodland Hills. Contact us if you or a loved one are suffering from OCD to get the help you need.
What is OCD?
OCD has two components: obsessions and compulsions.
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Obsessions: These are unwanted thoughts or urges that keep coming back and cause distress or anxiety. Examples can include the fear of contamination, the need to make your surroundings balanced and orderly, and aggressive or violent urges about harming yourself and others.
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Compulsions: These are repetitive, ritualistic behaviors that attempt to reduce the anxiety that your obsessions cause. Examples include washing your hands over and over, checking repeatedly to see if a door is locked, and arranging items a certain way. OCD patients often feel trapped in their compulsions, which become unpleasant and time-consuming, sometimes even for hours a day.
OCD Treatment
Treatment for OCD typically follows a two-pronged approach consisting of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and medication.
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CBT: Therapists use a type of CBT called exposure and response prevention (ERP). In this treatment, patients are exposed to feared situations related to their obsessions and prevented from performing their compulsions. Over time, patients learn to cope with their intrusive thoughts.
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Medication: SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors), typically used to treat depression, can also be effective against OCD.
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Each patient’s case is unique. Your therapist may use a combination of both CBT and medication to help you manage your symptoms.
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OCD is a potentially severe condition that can feel as if it’s taking over your life, forcing you to spend hours every day managing your obsessions and compulsions. But help is available. Contact Elevated Health Treatment Centers to get the help you need with managing and treating OCD.
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