OCD

What is OCD?

OCD causes distressing thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions). Though you don’t want the thoughts, they’re uncontrollable and stay in your head.

Obsessions cause extreme anxiety, which compels you to perform specific, ritualistic behaviors. Compulsive behaviors temporarily relieve your anxiety — until the thoughts return. Then, you repeat the behavior, and an ongoing cycle of OCD continues.

Compulsions associated with OCD take up at least an hour every day. However, half of adults diagnosed with OCD have such severe symptoms the condition consumes most of their time and prevents them from fulfilling daily responsibilities.

What symptoms does OCD cause?

Whether your obsessions and compulsions stay the same or occasionally change, they typically follow a theme. A few of the most common obsessions include:

• 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 typically follow obsessions. For example, a fear of germs may trigger behaviors like frequently washing your hands or showering. If you fear harm, you may constantly check the door to be sure it’s locked (even though you know you just checked a few minutes earlier).

Though not as common, obsessions may be random thoughts, images, or sounds. Sometimes, compulsions aren’t visible behaviors. Instead, you may say certain words or count in response to an obsession.

How is OCD treated?

OCD is a challenging mental health disorder, but you can improve with medication management and counseling provided by the Verathy clinicians.

Medication management

Even if you’re not depressed, some antidepressants relieve OCD symptoms by improving the balance of neurotransmitters (brain chemicals). You need to take antidepressants for 2-3 months before they start working.

Your Verathy therapist explains the pros and cons of medication and may recommend counseling, which can achieve the same results as drugs for many people.

Counseling

Talk therapy, alone or with medications, can help you overcome OCD. Therapies backed by evidence showing they work teach you to manage obsessive thoughts and avoid following through with compulsive behaviors.

If you’re worried about symptoms or need help with OCD, don’t wait to connect with the Verathy team. Call the office or request a visit today through online booking. Their telehealth services are available to patients living throughout Virginia, Maryland, and DC.