Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) – Westfield, NJ
Refocusing Your Mind with Positive Thinking to Improve Daily Living
If you typically struggle with repetitive behaviors or actions that interrupt your normal routine, then you might be dealing with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Also referred to as OCD, this mental health concern can often cause a person to relieve stress by performing compulsive or uncontrollable acts, many of which can disrupt their daily habits even if they try to get rid of the thoughts or urges. Fortunately, our team at Embrace Psychiatric Wellness Center is here to help you address your situation so that you can lead a smoother and more productive life.
What Is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a condition in which a person experiences patterns of unwanted thoughts or even phobias known as obsessions. These can turn into compulsions, meaning a person usually won’t be able to stop themselves from performing their repetitive behaviors, which often can lead to distress and a disruption of daily activities. Without treatment, the compulsions can become rituals that a person must complete before being able to go about their day comfortably and productively.
Symptoms & Diagnosing OCD
In many cases, OCD can come as unwarranted thoughts that keep returning or urges or images that are often intrusive and lead to stress or anxiety. Some symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder include:
- Doubts that you have locked the door or turned off a light.
- Fear of contamination by objects that other people have touched.
- An intense urge to make things orderly, clean, or balanced.
- Avoiding situations that might lead to obsessions, such as handshaking.
- Hand-washing until your skin becomes sore or raw.
- Checking if the stove is turned off repeatedly.
- Counting in particular patterns or arranging items so that they are facing the same way.
- Undesired thoughts or sexual images.
- Aggressive or hostile thoughts about shouting vulgar language or harming people or yourself.
OCD can sometimes be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms can be similar to those of obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, depression, and other mental health issues. That’s why you’ll want to consult your psychiatric professional so that they can help determine the parameters of your situation and develop a plan to best treat you.
Treatment Options for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
One of the most common treatments for OCD involves cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which uses various techniques to help patients learn healthy habits to reduce or eliminate compulsive rituals over time. Our team also provides additional services, such as:
- TMS Therapy: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy involves multiple sessions where a patient’s OCD symptoms are purposefully triggered to engage the circuit from the device. During the treatment, the patient will hear loud clicking and feel “tapping” on their scalp. Recent research has found that around 45-55% of patients experience reduced OCD symptoms from this method.
- Spravato: This treatment involves using a nasal spray consisting of esketamine, a derivative of ketamine, which is an anesthetic medication that can help minimize symptoms of various mental health disorders, including OCD. This is usually provided in combination with other methods for treating obsessive-compulsive disorder as well as other psychiatric concerns.
