Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
You can get compassionate, scientifically-proven OCD care through telehealth in Texas, Iowa, Washington, Arizona, and Pennsylvania, or you can come to one of our psychiatric offices in person.
Overview
What does OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) mean?
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a serious mental illness marked by unwanted, recurring thoughts (obsessions) and mental acts or behaviors that are done over and over again to calm down from the stress these thoughts cause (compulsions). About two to three million adults in the United States have OCD. If it is not treated, it can really get in the way of daily life.
When you have OCD, your worries and habits become a cycle that you feel like you can’t break without professional help. Compulsions only give you short-term relief and often make the loop worse instead of fixing it. Obsessions are annoying and upsetting. OCD is not a personality flaw or a case of being too careful; it is a complicated neurological and psychological disorder that has known biological and environmental causes.
Good news: you can get help for OCD. Our expert psychiatrists at My Psychiatry Care can help people with OCD through telehealth in Texas, Iowa, Washington, Arizona, and Pennsylvania.
Symptoms
The most common signs and symptoms of OCD
Different people with OCD have different symptoms that can be mild to very bad and make it hard to do things. People who have OCD usually have obsessions, compulsions, or both that take up a lot of time every day and make it hard to do normal things.
Unwanted and intrusive thoughts
Having disturbing and hard to control thoughts, images, or urges over and over again, like worries of getting sick, hurt, or losing control.
Fear of getting sick
A strong fear of germs, illness, or dirt that makes someone clean a lot or avoid things that might be dirty.
Worries about harm that won't go away
Have unwanted thoughts about hurting yourself or others that cause a lot of stress even though you don't plan to act on them.
Staying Away
Staying away from places, people, or events that set off obsessions can make daily life more and more difficult.
Rituals You Can't Avoid
Obsessions can cause people to do or think things over and over again, like washing their hands too much, checking, counting, or arranging things.
So there must be order or symmetry.
A strong desire to set up, finish, or organize things in a certain way until it feels "just right."
Looking for Reassurance
Repeatedly asking others for proof or reassurance to briefly relieve anxiety caused by obsessive doubts.
Distress and Loss of Function
Symptoms of OCD usually take up more than an hour a day and make work, relationships, and daily tasks very hard or impossible to do.
Types
Different Kinds of OCD We Treat
There are lots of different ways that OCD can show up. The cycle of obsessions and compulsions stays the same, but the themes and content of the obsessions change all the time. Our mental health professionals know how to diagnose and treat all types of OCD.
OCD over contamination
Having constant worries about germs, illness, chemicals, or dirt, which makes them clean, wash their hands, or stay away from things they think are dirty.
Hurt OCD
Constantly worrying that you might hurt yourself or others, either by accident or on purpose. These thoughts are ego-dystonic, which means they are very upsetting and go against what the person believes in.
OCD and Symmetry and Ordering
Because they really need things to be even, in order, or "just right." Organizing, repetition, or counting are common compulsions that people do until the pain goes away.
Thinks Too Much OCD (Pure O)
This type of OCD is sometimes called "Pure O" because the main obsessions are mental, like unwanted sexual, religious, or violent thoughts, and the main compulsions are mental rather than physical behaviors.
Looking at OCD
Due to strong doubt and fear of what might happen, this type of behavior includes checking over and over again things like making sure doors are locked, machines are turned off, or that no harm has been done.
OCD with other health problems
People with OCD often also have anxiety disorders, depression, ADHD, body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), or tic disorders. The best long-term results come from treating all conditions at the same time.
Causes & Risk Factors
Why does OCD happen?
There is no one cause of OCD. It’s usually caused by a number of different things, and having it is a sign of a complicated neurological condition, not a flaw or weakness in the person.
Physique
A family background of OCD or a related disorder makes getting OCD more likely, which suggests that it has a strong genetic component.
Chemistry and Structure of the Brain
OCD is closely linked to differences in how brain circuits that use serotonin and parts of the brain like the orbitofrontal cortex and basal ganglia work.
Scares or Stress
People who are biologically more likely to have OCD can be triggered or have their symptoms get worse by major life stresses, bad childhood experiences, or stressful events.
Onset Caused by an Infection (PANDAS)
Some kids get OCD symptoms all of a sudden after getting a streptococcal infection. This is called PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections).
Picked up habits
Over time, patterns of avoiding and responding compulsively can become stronger, making the OCD cycle worse even when the original trigger is gone.
Mental Health Conditions That Occur Together
Anxiety disorders, depression, and ADHD often happen together with OCD and can make it worse if they are not treated at the same time.
Situations in Life
Major changes, times of increased duty, or times of a lot of uncertainty can start or make OCD episodes worse.
Treatment
My Psychiatry Care can help with OCD.
OCD is very easy to treat. A personalized mix of psychiatric care and treatment that has been shown to work helps most people a lot. Our online OCD psychiatrists make individualized treatment plans that might include the following:
Evaluation and diagnosis by a psychiatrist
An in-depth look at your symptoms, personal background, way of life, and goals will help build a personalized, effective OCD treatment plan just for you.
Management of Medication
The first medicines used to treat OCD are serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs and SSRIs), like fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, and sertraline. We keep a close eye on how you respond and change your prescriptions as needed to find the best way to help you.
Therapy Help Lines
We put people in touch with experienced therapists who specialize in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). ERP is the best therapy for OCD.
Follow-up and support all the time
You should have regular check-ins to see how things are going, talk about your worries, and make changes to your treatment plan. Dealing with OCD is an ongoing process that you shouldn’t have to go through by yourself.
Getting Help
When to Get Help from a Professional for OCD
You don’t have to wait until your symptoms are really bad before you get help. You might want to talk to an online psychiatrist if:
Consider reaching out if:
- Your compulsions or cravings take up more than an hour a day.
- Your OCD is getting in the way of your work, relationships, or daily tasks.
- You have tried to deal with your problems on your own, but it hasn’t worked in the long term.
- Avoidance behaviors make it hard for you to do things or hang out with other people.
- You feel lost, embarrassed, or worn out because of your symptoms.
- You are having thoughts of killing yourself or hurting yourself.
We treat people with OCD through telehealth in Texas, Iowa, Washington, Arizona, and Pennsylvania. We take most major insurance plans and treat people of all ages (6 and up).
Psychiatric Mental Health & Family Nurse Practitioner
Meet Faith Agho, PMHNP-BC
- ANCC board certified
- Licensed in 5 states
My name is Faith Agho. I am a board certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with 16 years of experience in the healthcare industry. I am passionate about mental health and committed to providing individualized care that recognizes each person’s unique story and needs. My approach is centered on creating a safe, welcoming, and judgment-free environment where you can feel comfortable being honest about what you’re experiencing. At Faith Bridge Behavioral, I believe that seeking help is a sign of strength.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
My Psychiatry Care treats people with OCD through video in Texas, Iowa, Washington, Arizona, and Pennsylvania. You can make appointments online from home, so you don’t have to drive anywhere.
A lot of people have habits or preferences, but people with clinical OCD have unwanted obsessions that cause a lot of distress and compulsions that feel impossible to stop. Having OCD symptoms takes a lot of time—often more than an hour a day—and makes it hard to do normal things in ways that normal habits don’t.
There is a lot of proof that ERP is the best way to treat OCD. It involves slowly and methodically facing things or thoughts that you are afraid of (exposure) while not acting on your fears (response prevention). ERP helps lessen the power of obsessions over time, which breaks the cycle of abuse. As part of a full treatment plan, we send people to therapists who are trained in ERP.
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