With everything going on in the world today, it’s not surprising that anxiety disorders are very common. But suffering from any kind of anxiety is debilitating to your physical and mental health. If you’re dealing with a specific type of disorder, such as obsessive compulsive disorder, living a normal life may seem hopeless. But you don’t need to worry; there are treatments that can help.
At Carolina Wellness Psychiatry, our amazing team is prepared to help you in your fight against OCD. We have three very skilled doctors who are experts in treating all kinds of mental health disorders, especially anxiety-related ones. No matter how bad your disorder is, our doctors can help you find a treatment path that’s right for you.
OCD, also known as obsessive compulsive disorder, is a condition marked by recurring thoughts that cause you to perform repetitive actions. The thoughts are known as obsessions, while the actions are called compulsions.
The obsessions may cause you a lot of anxiety that’s only relieved once you perform the compulsion. You may realize that your obsessions are completely unreasonable; however, you still aren’t able to stop them. Many times your OCD is so bad that it interferes with not only your social life, but also your work and home life.
Understanding the symptoms and treatment options can help you conquer this disease.
Most people have both obsessions and compulsions with this disorder; however, there are times where you suffer from just one or the other. Symptoms that you experience have to do with the specific obsession or compulsion you suffer from. There are several forms of OCD, but the most common types are:
Usually, your thoughts will follow one of these four patterns. Symptoms of the disorder are split into obsessive symptoms and compulsion symptoms. Examples of obsessions include:
You can also experience intrusive thoughts of words or images. Or, you may be afraid of saying something you don’t want to, or blurting out obscene words. No matter what your obsession is, it’s very likely that a compulsion will follow. Some common types of compulsions are:
You may also feel the constant need for approval from your loved ones, or need to move things into a specific order or number. These compulsions may last from several minutes to several hours, which can eat up most of your day. Our doctors can help you find a treatment that can help you get your life back on track.
Treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder is focused on taming your obsessions, which hopefully helps to stop your compulsions. The two main types of treatment for this disorder include medication and psychotherapy. However, our doctors may also suggest other therapies, as well, to give you the best chance of success.
Medications that are commonly used for OCD are a certain type of antidepressant called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Although they’re called antidepressants, they help treat anxiety disorders as well. A large part of this disorder is thought to be an imbalance of serotonin in the brain, which is why our doctors may prescribe these medications.
Psychological therapy is another form of treatment for OCD that can be very successful. One of the most common forms of this type of therapy is cognitive behavioral therapy. Cognitive therapy helps you recognize your thoughts as improper and change your behavioral response to them. It’s a process that takes time, but you can learn to stop your compulsions.
Another suggestion our doctors give is relaxation, such as yoga or meditation. Exercise can also help to lessen the anxiety related to OCD. Sometimes, a mix of lifestyle changes along with medication and psychotherapy are what you need to kick OCD to the curb.
You don’t have to fight obsessive compulsive disorder alone. If you're tired of suffering, call our office today at 919-446-3232, or request an appointment using our online booking tool.
