Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Treatment: An Introduction

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This article explores obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), the types of treatment options available and ways to manage the condition. Read on to discover more!

1. What is OCD, and what are the symptoms?

OCD is a condition that triggers intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviours. While OCD can be a debilitating condition, treatment options may help. Symptoms of OCD include intrusive thoughts and avoidant or repetitive behaviours. Intrusive thoughts are spontaneous unwelcome ideas that are hard to control. Avoidant behaviours are the avoidance of things that may trigger your anxiety, fear or discomfort. And repetitive behaviours are time-consuming actions that you feel the urge to repeat over and over again until they're done just right. For example, if you are living with obsessive-compulsive disorder related to germs or contamination, you might wash your hands excessively for fear of illness.

2. Treatment options for OCD

Thankfully, treatment can help you manage your symptoms. The first step is to discuss the types of treatments available for OCD with your doctor or counsellor. They may recommend cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT). CBT teaches you how to control specific behaviours and resist compulsions. It also helps you recognise when irrational thoughts are present, understands their connection with your obsessions, and reduce anxiety related to these thoughts. If CBT alone isn't effective enough at reducing the severity of your symptoms, your doctor might prescribe antidepressant medications. This type of medication can significantly improve OCD symptoms but doesn't treat the condition itself.

3. Tips for living with OCD and managing your disorder

One of the keys to living with obsessive-compulsive disorder is learning to manage your condition every day. While it's not realistic to prevent all compulsions or anxiety, there are steps you can take on a daily basis that can make a significant difference in keeping your symptoms under control. Here are some tips for living with OCD:

Log thoughts and actions

Keep track of any harmful or destructive thoughts or behaviours. If these intrusive thoughts lead to actions, write down what happened, when it occurred, where it occurred, who was affected by the behaviour and what you did. Such details might help your doctor determine whether medication would be helpful in addition to therapy.

Identify and avoid triggers

Avoid things that can trigger your OCD symptoms. Triggers vary among individuals with OCD, but common ones include certain sounds, smells or images. Counselling can help you gain some insight into what might worsen your condition so you can avoid them.

For more advice on obsessive-compulsive disorder treatment, speak to a counsellor today.

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8 February 2022

Getting over my family issues

I am getting married this year to a great guy. I really want this to work out and one of the things that worry me is that I don't want the issues from my family to affect our relationship. My parents had a really traumatic relationship as my father is a heavy drinker and was often unfaithful. I often have trouble trusting my partner and I know that the reason is due to my family background and not anything that he has done. I've been going to counselling to work through my issues and I hope that you will join me on my journey.