Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition that causes recurring thoughts or urges to do something. It can cause you to have an urge to avoid contamination through extreme cleanliness or to organize things a certain way. While everyone has such thoughts or behavioral patterns every now and then, people with OCD have their lives and daily activities affected because of it. OCD does not go away on its own, and it is not curable. However, there are treatments available that can help you take control of the condition – and not the other way around.
Among the many effective treatments for OCD available are the following:
Medications
Like many mental health conditions, OCD can be managed with medication. Research has shown that serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRI) – also called antidepressants – are effective in managing OCD symptoms. There are many SRIs available. Your psychiatrist will be able to assess which SRI is best for you based on your age, overall health, and the severity of your OCD.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Psychiatrists have seen effective results in OCD patients using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), commonly known as talk therapy. CBT is used to treat many mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, phobias, eating or sleep disorders, and much more.
CBT entails you working with a psychiatrist through one-on-one sessions to discuss your behavior, actions, and symptoms. Your psychiatrist will help you recognize thoughts or actions that fall under OCD behavior and teach you how to take back control. The ultimate goal is to give you a set of tools that you can use to prevent the urges from taking over your life.
Combination of Treatments
In many cases, a combination of medication and CBT is required for the best results. Finding the right dosage and session frequency will take some work. Your psychiatrist will help you navigate through the treatments to find the right balance for effective results.
In a lot of cases, patients with OCD have other health or mental health issues that exasperate their OCD. For effective results, you will need to get such issues under control along with your OCD. Alternatively, your OCD many cause other issues to develop, such as depression. Your psychiatrist will work with you to identify any and all issues you are going through and find the right treatment solutions to give you the best results.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Treatment in New York and Connecticut
If you suspect that you or a loved one may have OCD, the best thing to do is get an accurate diagnosis from an experienced mental health professional. At Psy-Vision, Dr. Mark D. Stracks is happy to help you. Dr. Stracks is an experienced and talented psychiatrist with a wealth of experience treating a vast number of mental health conditions and disorders, including OCD.
Make an appointment today and find a way to take control of your condition and get back to living life the way you want. For more information about OCD or to make an appointment, please call (203) 405-1745. You can also send Dr. Stracks a private message.
