OCD Treatment

Personalized Care for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can involve unwanted, recurring thoughts and repetitive behaviors that become difficult to control and interfere with everyday life.

OCD can affect work, relationships, school, sleep, and daily routines. Some people spend significant amounts of time managing intrusive thoughts or performing behaviors intended to reduce anxiety.

At TruYou Psychiatry, we take the time to understand your symptoms and how they're affecting your life. We work collaboratively with you to develop an individualized treatment plan based on your needs and goals.

What Is OCD?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a mental health condition involving obsessions, compulsions, or both.

Obsessions are recurring and unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that can cause significant anxiety or distress.

Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts a person feels driven to perform, often in an attempt to reduce anxiety or prevent something bad from happening.

Someone with OCD may recognize that these thoughts or behaviors are excessive but still find them extremely difficult to control.

Common Symptoms of OCD

OCD can look different from person to person. Symptoms may include:

• Persistent unwanted or intrusive thoughts
• Excessive concerns about germs or contamination
• Fear of making a serious mistake
• Repeated doubts about whether something was done correctly
• A strong need for order, symmetry, or exactness
• Repeatedly checking locks, appliances, or other things
• Excessive washing or cleaning
• Repeating certain actions
• Counting or arranging objects
• Seeking repeated reassurance
• Performing mental rituals
• Avoiding situations that trigger obsessive thoughts

Having an occasional unwanted thought or personal routine does not necessarily mean someone has OCD. The condition generally involves symptoms that cause significant distress or interfere with everyday functioning.

The Cycle of Obsessions and Compulsions

For many people, OCD can create a difficult cycle.

An intrusive thought may cause anxiety or distress. Performing a particular behavior or mental ritual may temporarily reduce that anxiety.

However, the relief is often temporary, and the obsessive thought or fear may return. This can reinforce the urge to repeat the behavior.

Over time, this cycle can become increasingly disruptive to everyday life.

How Is OCD Diagnosed?

A psychiatric evaluation can help determine whether the symptoms you're experiencing are related to OCD or another condition.

Your provider may discuss the thoughts or behaviors you're experiencing, how frequently they occur, how much time they consume, and how they affect your work, relationships, and everyday activities.

It's also important to consider other conditions because symptoms of OCD can sometimes occur alongside anxiety, depression, ADHD, or other mental health concerns.

How Is OCD Treated?

OCD is treatable. Treatment may include psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of approaches depending on the individual.

A specialized form of cognitive behavioral therapy known as Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is commonly used to treat OCD. Medication may also be appropriate for some patients.

Your psychiatric provider can evaluate your symptoms, discuss medication options when appropriate, monitor your response to treatment, and coordinate with other mental health professionals when specialized therapy is recommended.

At TruYou Psychiatry, you're an active participant in decisions about your care.

OCD Does Not Define You

Intrusive thoughts can be particularly upsetting because they may involve things a person would never want to think or do. Experiencing an unwanted thought does not mean you agree with it or intend to act on it.

At TruYou Psychiatry, you are more than your diagnosis.

Our goal is to understand what you're experiencing without judgment and help you find an appropriate path toward better mental health and an improved quality of life.

Take the Next Step

If unwanted thoughts, repetitive behaviors, checking, cleaning, rituals, or other symptoms are consuming significant time or interfering with your everyday life, a psychiatric evaluation can help determine an appropriate next step.