OCD doesn't go away by itself and there isn't any cure. You can't ignore it or think your way out of the repetitive thoughts and behaviors that run your life. What you possibly can control is your decision to hunt treatment.
The first step is to see your doctor. An examination will show whether your symptoms are because of a physical problem. If this isn't the case, your doctor may recommend a mental health specialist, comparable to: For example, a psychologist, therapist or social employee who can create a plan for you. If you might be considering medication, chances are you'll even be referred to a psychiatrist.
For many individuals, the mixture of talk therapy and medicine works best.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). OCD has a cycle: obsessions, fears, compulsions, and relief. CBT, a type of psychotherapy, gives you tools to think, act, and reply to your unhealthy thoughts and habits. The goal is to interchange negative thoughts with productive ones.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). This is a special type of cognitive behavioral therapy. As the name suggests, you might be steadily exposed to the things that trigger your fear. You will learn recent ways to reply to them as an alternative of settling into your repetitive rituals. ERP is a process you can do individually along with your psychologist or in group therapy, either alone or along with your local family.
Medication. Antidepressants are sometimes the primary medications prescribed for OCD. This doesn't necessarily mean you're depressed, it's just that antidepressants also treat OCD. Depending in your age, health, and symptoms, your doctor may ask you to try clomipramine (Anafranil), fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), or one other antidepressant.
Buspirone (BuSpar) is an anti-anxiety medication sometimes used to treat chronic anxiety and is useful for each panic and obsessive-compulsive disorder. You might want to take it for just a few weeks before you notice complete symptom relief.
Some anticonvulsant medicines (e.g. gabapentin). [Neurontin] or pregabalin [Lyrica]), some blood pressure medications (comparable to propranolol) and a few atypical antipsychotics (comparable to aripiprazole or quetiapine or Seroquel) are also occasionally used off label to treat anxiety symptoms or disorders.
It can take several months for compulsive medication to begin working. They also can cause unwanted effects comparable to dry mouth, nausea, and suicidal thoughts. Call your doctor or 911 immediately should you are enthusiastic about taking your individual life.
Take your medications frequently and on a schedule. If you don't just like the unwanted effects or feel higher and need to stop taking your medicine, ask your doctor find out how to safely taper off your medication. If you miss just a few doses or stop taking cold turkey, chances are you'll experience unwanted effects or a relapse.
Other treatments. Sometimes OCD doesn't respond well to medication or therapy. Experimental treatments for severe cases of OCD include:
- Clinical trials. You could take part in research studies to check unproven therapies.
- Deep brain stimulation, wherein electrodes are surgically implanted into your brain
- Electroshock therapy. Electrodes attached to your head provide you with electric shocks to trigger seizures, which cause your brain to release hormones comparable to serotonin.
Your treatment goals for OCD are to retrain your brain and control your symptoms with the smallest amount of medication possible. Physically prepare yourself for achievement by maintaining a healthy diet, exercising, and getting enough sleep. Emotional support can also be essential: Surround yourself with encouraging members of the family, friends, and folks who understand OCD.