What is OCD? Symptoms, Treatment, and Signs

Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition that’s characterized by unwanted thoughts, fears, and obsessions. When untreated, symptoms can become more serious and impact your day-to-day life. But it’s completely possible to live a happy, healthy life with an OCD diagnosis, especially when you prioritize therapy, medication management, and other helpful methods of treatment.

Learn more about OCD symptoms, treatment, and more below.

What is OCD?

OCD is a mental health condition that involves a cycle of obsessions and compulsions.

• Obsessions are intrusive, unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that cause distress
• Compulsions are behaviors or mental rituals performed to try to relieve that distress

OCD can become a chronic mental health condition, meaning it often requires long-term management. It can start in childhood, adolescence, or adulthood, and varies greatly from person to person.

OCD symptoms

People with OCD can experience a wide range of symptoms, and they vary from person to person. However, symptoms and signs typically fall into two categories: obsessions and compulsions. Here are some of the most common.

Common obsessions:

• Fear of contamination (i.e., germs, dirt, illness)
• Fear of harming yourself or those around you
• Intrusive thoughts about taboo or “scary” subjects (i.e., religion, sex, violence)
• Need for order, symmetry, or exactness
• Extreme doubts and a need for constant reassurance

Common compulsions:

• Excessive washing or cleaning
• Repeatedly checking locks, stoves, or switches
• Counting, tapping, or repeating actions
• Rearranging objects until they "feel right"
• Silent mental rituals like praying or reviewing events

Obsessions and compulsions can also worsen in times of stress and anxiety. They may fluctuate over time, too.

Treatment for OCD

There are a few different ways to treat OCD:

Therapy

Historically, one of the most effective types of treatment for OCD is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT is a form of talk therapy that consists of identifying negative thought patterns and behaviors and trying to replace them with positive ones.

Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is a type of CBT that’s also commonly used for OCD. ERP may consist of:

• Exposing yourself to your fears or obsessions in a safe environment guided by a mental health professional
• Helping you resist the urge to perform compulsions
• Gradually reducing the amount of anxiety surrounding obsessions

Get started with therapy for OCD at Community Minds

Psychiatry

Psychiatry and medication management are other common forms of treatment for OCD. Your psychiatrist may prescribe a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) like fluoxetine (Prozac) or sertraline (Zoloft) to help with your obsessions and compulsions. SSRIs can work to increase your serotonin levels, which play a key part in regulating your mood and anxiety. Over time, SSRIs can make serotonin more readily available between nerve cells, effectively reducing symptoms and signs of OCD.

Mental health medications, including SSRIs, work differently for everyone. It can be a difficult and long process to find a medication that works for you, but your psychiatrist is there to help. Frequent check-ins and appointments can help mitigate side effects and serve as a platform to talk through any concerns.

Get started with psychiatry for OCD at Community Minds

Holistic treatment methods

Like any other mental health condition, there are holistic ways to help manage certain symptoms. You can utilize your community to lessen the stress or worry of a mental health diagnosis. Some ideas include:

• Confiding in a trusted loved one
• Asking a friend, family member, or partner to accompany you to therapy or psychiatry appointments
• Leaning on a sibling, roommate, or pet for extra support

Other holistic treatment ideas are:

• Mindfulness (guided meditations, yoga, deep breathing)
• Regular exercise
• Getting enough sleep every night
• Peer support groups or group therapy
• Stress management techniques (journaling, limiting screen time, going for a walk)

Frequently asked questions

What’s it like to live with OCD?

OCD can look different for everyone. For many, though, symptoms can feel like living in a loop of unwanted thoughts and rituals. Some people may spend hours each day perfecting and thinking about compulsive behaviors. This can feel exhausting, overwhelming, and isolating.

However, with effective treatment, a happy, healthy life is possible.

Does OCD ever go away?

OCD doesn’t necessarily go away, just like other mental health conditions like anxiety, PTSD, and bipolar disorder. This is why it’s important to seek out help to learn how to safely manage your symptoms (and have the support of a team of mental health professionals when you need it).

While it can feel scary to know that obsessions or compulsions will never fully go away, you can change your relationship to them with the guidance of a therapist.

How to stop OCD thoughts

There’s no way to completely stop OCD thoughts, but you can:

• Attend ERP therapy sessions with a mental health professional
• Practice mindfulness
• Work to reduce feelings of anxiety, stress, and worry
• Challenge obsessive thoughts through CBT methods

Takeaway

OCD can be a serious mental health condition, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to treat. Through therapy, psychiatry, and community-based support, you can learn to live a healthy life alongside symptoms of OCD.

Get started with OCD help at Community Minds