Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health disorder wherein a person has repeating and upsetting thoughts. These obsessions cause individuals to repeat tasks and actions over and over in an attempt to get rid of these thoughts. When these tasks are repeated, it is referred to as a compulsion. Often, this behavior results from a variety of sources, including fears of germs and fears of being harmed.
The Effects of OCD
There are many different pieces to OCD. It can be quite debilitating and is deeply misunderstood. For a number of people, the effects are not as disruptive as others. However, there are many people who struggle daily with continued compulsions.
Symptoms of OCD
At its most basic, OCD results in recurring thoughts that constantly cycle with no sign of stopping. These thoughts are negative in nature and may relate to any number of problems, real or imagined. When these thoughts continue, they distress the individual into even more negative mindsets.
The majority of people with OCD will have racing, cyclical thoughts that lead them to compulsive behavior. This behavior will result in repeating certain activities in an effort to ease the thoughts. Compulsive behaviors can include rearranging items, cleaning their living space at strange hours, or washing hands and bathing many times a day. Often, these people find that these behaviors do not solve their issues, but they continue nonetheless.
Those who have severe OCD are often those depicted in media. They may find they cannot leave their homes due to fears regarding health or personal well-being. Perhaps they may have elaborate rituals involving tasks being conducted in a particular order. Should they make a mistake, they will ignore any other engagements and start over again until they get it right. These individuals have no respite from their compulsions and obsessive thoughts and may do all they can to stay away from others due to their growing fears and paranoia.
Treatment Options for OCD
When it comes to treating OCD, it is essential to find the origins of the issue. Though it may seem like a person is simply afraid of something like germs, there are often deeper problems. These regularly stem from childhood trauma and past negative events.
A treatment program must evaluate a person’s situation before creating a treatment plan. However, a typical treatment plan for OCD may involve:
- Group therapy
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT)
There are a variety of treatment options that utilize the above techniques, including:
- Residential programs
- Partial hospitalization programs (PHP)
- Intensive outpatient programs (IOP)
- General outpatient programs
Often, a combination of these techniques is necessary to understand and work on a person’s specific issues.
Benefits of Treatment
Treatments provide a combined front in the battle for mental stability. While medication may ease some of the symptoms of OCD, psychotherapy will also help a person eventually learn to deal with their issues.
New doors will open when a person is able to get their feelings out in the open and start exploring the roots of their problems. For these people, the concept of group therapy may seem more frightening than individual therapy. However, there are many benefits that they may not be considering.
When individuals can share their experiences with like-minded people, it will become apparent that they are not alone. They may even learn new techniques for how to cope with their OCD. Group therapy will help individuals find that their reasons for isolating are far more universal than they would have ever considered.
This restructuring of priorities and thought processes will help people start their journey to better mental health. It will bring them out of their shells and into a new world of opportunities.
The Phoenix Recovery Center and OCD
The Phoenix Recovery Center can guarantee that no two cases of OCD are the same. It is our goal to identify your specific issues as best as possible and work from there. Our team of professionals uses techniques trained to help individuals understand their mental health problems and show them strategies for dealing with them.
We are dedicated to the holistic approach to mental health. A person cannot be treated in just one aspect of their life. They must understand how their disorder affects their mind, body, and spirit. Our program sees the person as an individual with specific needs. We then identify and speak to those issues.
Depending on the situation, we may recommend starting with a full residential program. This will allow the individual to step back from their own lives and allow themselves to concentrate on the healing process. A person may also wish to try an alternative PHP program where you could be at our facility each day but go home at night. This program is for people who feel they are safe but need a period of intensive therapy on a daily basis.
For those who need assistance but find that their issues need simple one-to-one therapy on a regular, ongoing basis, we offer therapy and any MAT that might become necessary. Our team can help you with the initial evaluation to decide which type of care matches your specific situation.
To get started, call The Phoenix Recovery Center today at (801) 438-3185.
