Your Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Treatment Options
Obsessive compulsive disorder is an illness that causes people to have unwanted thoughts, usually repetitive and which can quickly become frustrating and even immobilizing. Most people who suffer from this disorder know that their obsessions and compulsions make no sense and they want to shake it but are not sure how to do this.
The obsessions and compulsions that sufferers experience can vary greatly, but typically are ideas or impulses that run through their mind over and over again. They may even find these images and impulses to be disturbing but are not able to control them. They usually then end up suffering from depression, which often aggravates the obsessive compulsive disorder and makes it even worse, and they then find themselves lost in a vicious cycle that seems impossible to get out of.
Many Types Of Treatment
When it comes to obsessive compulsive disorder treatment, you have quite a few options. Self-help books are often very effective, although they may not be the best idea if your anxiety is especially severe or persistent.
If your anxiety is chronic, if it has persisted for over six months, then you may want to start off with exposure and response prevention therapy, which is basically a part of cognitive therapy. This involves taking gradual steps towards your recovery by slowly introducing yourself to the things that you are fearful of.
For instance if your anxiety worsens in social situations, you may want to address your condition by taking a walk to the store or going out to a public place for lunch with a friend for instance, so that you can begin to feel more comfortable.
Obsessive compulsive disorder treatment often involves medication, but make sure that you never start yourself on any type of medicine without discussing it first with your doctor and making sure that you will not be putting yourself at any risk. Medications are often the most effective form of obsessive compulsive disorder treatment but should not be considered as a long-term solution.
Instead you should use this obsessive compulsive disorder treatment as a way to give your body time to relax and heal, and then while you are on the medication you should be working with a mental health professional, such as a counselor or therapist in order to find out the actual root cause of your anxiety. This should help you to find a long-term solution for your condition rather than just using medication to cover up the symptoms.
