OCD

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) causes considerable distress and anxiety and, in some cases, consumes so much time you withdraw from the rest of your daily life. You can overcome OCD symptoms with help from the team at Global Behavioral Healthcare. Their providers offer compassionate psychiatric care to adults throughout Colorado via telehealth. They can create customized treatment plans that may include medication, therapy, or both, depending on your needs. Schedule your telehealth appointment by calling the office based in Denver, Colorado, or using the online booking feature today.

What is OCD?

OCD causes distressing thoughts and images (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions). Though you don't want the thoughts, they stay in your head. As a result, you become anxious and feel compelled to perform certain ritualistic behaviors to ease your anxiety.

Compulsive behaviors temporarily relieve anxiety until the obsessive thoughts return. Then, you repeat the behavior, and the cycle continues.

OCD compulsions take up at least an hour every day and can consume so much energy and time that you can’t take care of your daily responsibilities.

What symptoms does OCD cause?

Obsessions and compulsions may stay the same or change over time. These are a few examples of obsessions:

• Fear of being harmed
• Fear of being contaminated (by germs, toxins, and others)
• Fear of becoming violent
• Fear of behaving inappropriately
• Fear of losing essential items
• Need to maintain order or cleanliness

Compulsions often follow your thoughts. For example, a fear of germs can lead to behaviors like frequently washing your hands or taking showers. 

You may keep rearranging items on a shelf if your thoughts center on the need for order. A fear of harm may compel you to keep checking windows and doors to ensure they’re locked.

You could also experience thoughts, sounds, or images that seem random or meaningless. And sometimes, compulsive behaviors don’t follow your obsessions. For example, you may count or say specific words out loud or in your head.

How is OCD treated?

Medication management and therapy are the primary treatments for OCD:

Medication

Even if you’re not depressed, antidepressants may improve the chemical balance in your brain, helping to improve anxiety and ease OCD symptoms. Other types of medications are also available for OCD, as everyone responds differently and requires a customized plan for their OCD type and genetic makeup.

Therapy

Whether alone or with medication, talk therapy can help many people overcome OCD. One type of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure and response prevention (ERP), gently exposes you to things that trigger obsessive thoughts while learning ways to avoid compulsive behaviors.

Though ERP causes anxiety at first, it’s one of the most effective ways to treat OCD. Other therapies are also beneficial. They may teach how to confront and ignore thoughts, change behavior patterns, or offer different strategies for managing OCD.

You can overcome OCD with caring support from the team at Global Behavioral Healthcare. Book a telehealth appointment online or call the office today.