Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Treatment

A Quick Guide

Living with OCD can be quite difficult. OCD does not just go away. So if you are waiting for your symptoms to dissipate after a certain amount of time. Then it’s not going to happen. In fact, it may worsen over time. But the good thing is that treatment for OCD is available which can help you in managing your symptoms. 

Treatment options

There are two widely used treatments i.e psychotherapy and medication for OCD depending on the intensity of your symptoms. Combining them may be more effective. 

Psychotherapy

It is a form of talk therapy and the most commonly used is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). 

So CBT helps in breaking the loop of your obsessive thoughts. It helps you to think, act and respond to unhealthy thoughts and behavioral patterns in the correct way. You gradually learn to change these unhealthy thoughts into positive ones.

On the other hand, ERP basically exposes you to something that causes you anxiety. It helps you in facing your fears one step at a time. So when you have been exposed to that stimulus, you will automatically have obsessive thoughts. But you will not act on those compulsive behaviors. You will start at a very basic level and then slowly move on to more difficult obsessions.

Medication for OCD

Mostly, OCD is treated by antidepressants first. These include Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). It does not necessarily mean that you might be depressed. But because antidepressants have actually helped in improving OCD symptoms to a great degree. They release a neurotransmitter called serotonin in your brain. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved all of these medications. Some of these drugs include Fluoxetine (Prozac), Sertraline (Zoloft), Paroxetine (Paxil), etc. Your doctor may also prescribe them depending on your age and health condition.

It is important to remember that medication can take time to work. Especially SSRIs take around 12 weeks before you notice any change in your symptoms. So it is crucial that you remain patient and stick to your treatment plan.

Side effects of medication

You should always discuss the potential risks and benefits of the medication with your doctor. Some common side effects associated with SSRIs are as follows:

• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Blurred vision
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Sleeping problems
• Low sex drive
• Feeling agitated or anxious

Sometimes, certain medications can cause you to have suicidal thoughts. 

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 for support and assistance from a trained counselor.

Other treatments for OCD

If your OCD is treatment-resistant, then there are other options available.

1. Deep brain stimulation (DBS): This treatment is mostly performed on people over the age of 18. It involves implanting electrodes into specific areas of your brain to then regulate abnormal impulses.
2. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS): This is a non-invasive procedure that is performed in people over the age of 22. It involves using a magnetic field to regulate the nerve impulses in the brain.
3. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT): This treatment involves attaching electrodes to certain areas of your scalp. The electrodes generate electrical impulses that induce a seizure lasting for about 1 minute. It helps in regulating abnormal neural activity.

It is important to practice stress management while you are taking professional treatment. Moreover, there are certain things like eating healthy, exercising, etc that can contribute to reducing the symptoms of OCD. You should also have a support group, family, or friends who understand what you are going through. All of these things combined can help in alleviating your symptoms of OCD.

We hope you found this article useful in understanding the treatment of OCD.