Treatment for OCD

OCD stands for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Here are some examples of what it can look like:

• Intrusive thoughts and mental images.
• Difficulty ignoring or suppressing intrusive thoughts.
• Repetitive or ritualistic behavior aimed at controlling unwanted thoughts.
• A significant amount of time spent trying to control thoughts.
• Symptoms negatively impact the person's life.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is misunderstood and often misdiagnosed. The average time for a person with OCD to be in the medical or mental healthcare system and go undiagnosed is 17 years. This demonstrates just how important it is to find a provider who understands and specializes in the treatment of OCD.

OCD can present in a number of different ways. OCD will latch onto things that a person cares for deeply, but feels uncertain of, and the obsessions and compulsions will naturally follow. Here are a few examples of types of OCD:

• Scrupulosity: A moral and/or religious preoccupation, with reassurance-seeking or confessing as the most common compulsions.
• Contamination OCD: Obsessions and compulsions surrounding cleanliness or filth.
• Relationship OCD (ROCD):  Intrusive thoughts about one's past, present, or future romantic relationships with corresponding compulsions.
• Sexual Orientation OCD (SO-OCD): A preoccupation with one's sexual orientation and compulsions aimed at neutralizing these intrusive thoughts (formerly described as HOCD).
• Harm OCD: Intrusive thoughts about accidentally or negligently hurting others or those close to the person, with the corresponding compulsions.

If your OCD symptoms are holding you back from enjoying your life, family, friends, and functioning how you want to, I encourage you to reach out to me. This is a manageable condition with treatments proven to put it into remission.