OCD Diagnosis and Treatment
1 in 40 Adults Struggle with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. If You are Struggling, You are Not Alone!
Some people have thoughts that feel intrusive and anxiety provoking and/or rituals that they can’t seem to get rid of. They feel stuck in a loop of unwanted and repeated thoughts (obsessions) and engaging in behaviors (compulsions) in response to these thoughts.
If you know you have thoughts that you do not want to have,or you know you have unwanted actions in response, you are not alone in dealing with it.About 1 in 40 adults have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) so it's not rare.
You may feel distressed or anxious because of these obsessions or compulsions interfere with your life. You may find it hard to stop them or control them. However, at Brightland Health you can find help with OCD.
Is OCD Just "Being Neat" or "Liking Things a Certain Way"?
Not at all. A lot of people say "I’m OCD" when they like things organized, but clinical OCD is much more intense and distressing. It’s not about organizational preferences, it’s about feeling stuck in a loop of anxiety and relief, and it can get in the way of daily functioning.
Diagnosing OCD - Common Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Symptoms
OCD stands for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. It is a mental health condition that involves two main parts:
Obsessions:
Obsessions – These are unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images, or urges that pop into your mind and cause anxiety or discomfort. They’re not just worries, but thoughts that feel distressing, disturbing, or "wrong" in some way. For example, you might constantly worry about germs,or whether you made a bad mistake.You might attempt to ignore, suppress, or neutralize these thoughts with another thought or action.
Compulsions:
Compulsions – These are the excessive actions, mental rituals, or repetitive behaviors you feel driven to do in response to the obsession to try to get rid of the anxiety. They can be things like washing your hands repeatedly, counting over and over again, checking, or repeating phrases in your head.These behaviors are aimed at reducing distress; however, they may be excessive or not connected in a realistic way with what they are designed to neutralize.
A psychiatrist or therapist can diagnose OCD. To be diagnosed with this condition you must have the presence of time-consuming (e.g., take more than 1 hour per day) obsessions, compulsions, or both. And they cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other areas of functioning.
What To Expect as a Patient - And What Makes Our OCD Treatment So Effective?
Can I Get Help for My OCD?
Yes! OCD is very treatable. At Brightland Health, a psychiatrist can help with OCD. PsychiatryMedications, can reduce obsessive thoughts and the urge to do compulsions.
Psychiatry Medications might include antidepressants:
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Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
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Tricyclic Antidepressants
Also, Brightland Health is where you can find a therapist that can treat OCD. Therapy for OCD might involve:
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CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), helps you understand the cycle of OCD so that obsessions become less distressing and the compulsions feel less necessary.
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ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention), helps you gradually face the thoughts or anxiety provoking situations without doing the compulsion.
We can understand that living with obsessive thoughts or compulsions may be overwhelming. Please remember you deserve support and kindness. We believe that a combination of both therapy and psychiatry medications, depending on the person, may be the best treatment for OCD. On our team you can find a Psychiatrist and aTherapist in Lincoln Park/Lakeview to help you overcome this condition and alleviate symptoms.
Call 312-796-7121 todayor book online andget the help you are seeking and work towards a brighter future.