Those with OCD often find they can control their anxiety or obsessive thoughts by using a variety of self-help strategies. These might include support groups, mindfulness meditation practices and exercise programs. However, if your symptoms are severe, you may need to seek professional help. Psychotherapy and medication are the two main treatments for OCD. For most people, both work well in combination.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a highly effective treatment for OCD. The most commonly used form of CBT is exposure and response prevention (ERP). This involves exposing yourself to your feared situations or images while resisting the urge to perform a compulsion, such as touching dirty objects or washing your hands over and over again. Your therapist will guide you through the process of gradually increasing your exposures until you feel comfortable doing them on your own. You can do these exposures both in treatment sessions and at home.
Sometimes a person with OCD also has other mental health disorders, such as anxiety, depression or schizophrenia. These other disorders can make it harder to recover from OCD, so it is important that you get an accurate diagnosis.
Although no medication has been specifically developed to treat OCD, antidepressants can often be helpful in controlling OCD symptoms. The most common antidepressants used to treat OCD are called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs. Seven SSRIs are available in the United States. Six of them are called SRIs because they regulate only the neurotransmitter serotonin, while the seventh, clomipramine, regulates other neurotransmitters as well as serotonin.
A few experimental medications are being used to try to treat OCD. For example, a drug called vortioxetine has been found to reduce levels of serotonin and other chemicals in the brain that are involved in mood. However, there is not yet enough evidence to show whether this can be a long-term solution for those with OCD.
In some cases, a person with OCD can reduce their symptoms by using self-care methods in conjunction with medication and CBT. For example, a program of aerobic exercise can help to reduce obsessions and compulsions. It is best to talk to your therapist or doctor before trying an exercise program on your own.
There is no such thing as a magic bullet that will eliminate OCD symptoms, but a combination of therapy and medication can usually bring your symptoms under control so that they don’t interfere with your daily life. You can also learn more about OCD and how to cope with it by visiting IOCDF’s resources page. You can also try teletherapy with an IOCDF-approved provider. There are a number of therapists in the IOCDF teletherapy providers list who offer online or telephone therapy consultations with a licensed psychologist trained in ERP. They can help you build up your confidence in tackling your OCD. They can teach you techniques to use at home, such as exposure and response practice and ACT. This is a great option for those who cannot afford in-person therapy.
