The National Alliance on Mental Health describes obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, as a mental health condition that is characterized by repetitive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and irrational urges to do certain things (compulsions).
There is a misconception that OCD simply makes someone overly organized or tidy, but the truth is that this condition interferes with a person’s ability to function each day.
At East Tennessee Behavioral Health, we offer inpatient and outpatient treatment options for adolescents, adults, and senior adults who are struggling with OCD. With the help of our expert team, you can learn to manage the OCD symptoms that have kept you from living a full, productive life.
Signs & Symptoms of OCD
Most people have the occasional unwanted thought or the urge to do something irrational. But for someone who has OCD, these thoughts and urges can be highly intrusive. Because OCD affects everyone differently, the symptoms of OCD can also look different from person to person. But, in general, these are common signs of OCD:
- Keeps having unwanted thoughts or seeing unwanted images
- Feels anxious or distressed about these thoughts or images
- Feels urge to perform an action to suppress the thoughts or images
- Feels driven to keep doing something over and over again
- Behaviors are aimed at preventing a dreaded event or decreasing anxiety
- Thoughts, images, or behaviors cause significant distress
- Behaviors consume a great deal of time and impair daily functioning
OCD Statistics
The National Institute of Mental Health reported the following statistics on OCD in the United States based on a survey of 1,808 adults:
- An estimated 1.2% of adults met the criteria for OCD in the past year.
- Women (1.8%) are more likely than men (0.5%) to suffer from OCD.
- About half of the adults surveyed (50.6%) said that their lives were severely disrupted because of their struggles with OCD.
Effects of OCD
OCD can affect someone in many ways depending on how severe their symptoms are. Common effects of OCD include:
- Avoiding situations that may trigger symptoms
- Avoiding loved ones out of fear that they may suffer harm
- Health problems related to compulsive behaviors
- Trouble seeking medical care
- Trouble completing work or school projects
- Academic failure or job loss
- Difficulty maintaining financial independence
- Trouble maintaining significant relationships
- Development of another mental health concern
- Thoughts of suicide or suicide attempts
The effects of OCD can be isolating and overwhelming. But with the support of professionals, you can set the groundwork for lasting healing.
The Benefits of OCD Treatment
Living with obsessive-compulsive disorder can make it difficult for someone to reach out for help for a number of reasons. This condition can cause irrational fears about seeking medical care and intense anxiety in medical settings. But getting treatment for OCD can help you break free from the obsessions and compulsions that have been controlling your daily life.
When you get OCD treatment, you can work with highly experienced professionals who can help you reduce the severity of the OCD symptoms you have been experiencing. Your care team can also help you develop the skills you need to better manage those symptoms in the future.
During your time at an OCD treatment center, you may also connect with others who have had similar experiences with this condition. Many people find that the support of the peers they meet in treatment becomes a powerful motivator throughout their healing journey.
Therapies Used to Treat OCD
At East Tennessee Behavioral Health, we know that everyone has a different family history and life experiences, and this can affect the way they respond to the OCD treatment we provide. For this reason, we carefully assess each person’s needs before custom-building their OCD treatment plan.
We primarily use group therapy at our OCD treatment center, with topics chosen based on each person’s specific goals. Depending on your unique needs, your OCD treatment plan may also include family therapy, individual counseling, medication management, and basic medical care.
In counseling sessions, we incorporate modalities like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and motivational enhancement therapy (MET). By using different approaches, we can help you change harmful thought patterns and make positive behavior changes.
Why Choose Our OCD Treatment Center?
Finding the right place to get OCD treatment can feel overwhelming. Our goal is to ease any concerns you may have about choosing East Tennessee Behavioral Health as the place to start your healing journey.
When you choose East Tennessee Behavioral Health, you can benefit from the highest-quality care delivered by a multidisciplinary team of experts. Depending on the type and level of care you receive at our OCD treatment center, your care team may be comprised of a physician, a psychiatrist, a nurse practitioner, nursing staff, fully licensed therapists, a dietitian, and a chef.
Every member of our team does their utmost to create a warm atmosphere where everyone feels welcome the moment they walk through our doors. The therapeutic environment we have built is designed to allow our patients to focus fully on the healing process, encouraging them to forget their daily stressors and concentrate on why they came to us: to improve their overall well-being.
We strive to provide a place of hope and healing for people who are struggling with OCD. Let us help you get on the path to a better, brighter future.
This content was written on behalf of and reviewed by the clinical staff at East Tennessee Behavioral Health.