OCD and Addiction Treatment in Florida
You know that nagging feeling that you just can’t shake? Is the one telling you to check the stove again or wash your hands for the tenth time? If so, you may be among the 2-3% of Americans suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Living with OCD isn’t easy! It is tormenting and all-consuming.
To escape the distress, you may have turned to drugs or alcohol as a way to self-medicate. Now you find yourself caught in the vicious cycle of OCD and addiction. The good news is, that treatment options at Ambrosia Behavioral Health in West Palm Beach, Port St. Lucie, and Singer Island, Florida can help you overcome your challenges. You’re not alone!
These are intrusive, unwanted, and distressing thoughts, images, or urges that repeatedly enter an individual’s mind. Common obsessions include fears of contamination, fears of harming oneself or others, fears of making a mistake, or fears of things being out of order.
In an attempt to reduce the anxiety or discomfort caused by the obsessions, individuals with OCD engage in repetitive behaviors or mental acts. These behaviors are called compulsions. Examples include excessive hand washing, counting, checking things repeatedly, or mentally repeating phrases.
The obsessions and compulsions cause significant distress to the person experiencing them and often interfere with daily functioning. Despite recognizing that the obsessions and compulsions are excessive or irrational, individuals with OCD find it challenging to stop or control them.
OCD is a chronic condition, but it is treatable. Individuals with OCD need to seek professional help for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
What Are The Common Types of OCD?
- Checking: People with OCD have persistent doubts and fears that something terrible will happen if they don’t repeatedly check things. This could involve checking locks, appliances, or other items to ensure they are secure.
- Contamination: Individuals with this subtype often have intense fears of germs, dirt, or contamination. This can lead to compulsive behaviors such as excessive handwashing, avoiding certain places or objects, or rituals related to cleanliness.
- Hoarding: Hoarding involves an intense fear of discarding items, regardless of their actual value. Individuals with hoarding OCD may accumulate a large number of possessions, making it difficult for them to part with things, even if they are useless or broken.
- Ruminations and Intrusive Thoughts: Some individuals with OCD experience persistent, distressing thoughts that are difficult to control. These thoughts can be violent, sexual, or blasphemous, and individuals may engage in mental rituals to try to neutralize or suppress them.
- Symmetry and Orderliness: This subtype involves an obsession with symmetry, order, and exactness. Individuals may feel extreme discomfort if things are not arranged in a particular way and may engage in rituals to create a sense of order.
- Pure Obsession: In this subtype, individuals experience distressing obsessions without observable compulsive behaviors. The compulsions are often mental rituals or attempts to suppress intrusive thoughts. Common obsessions include fears of harming others, inappropriate sexual thoughts, or fears of committing taboo acts.
- Contamination: This subtype involves an obsessive fear of being responsible for harm to others. Individuals with this type of OCD may fear causing accidents, unintentionally harming someone, or being responsible for a catastrophic event.
What are the Signs and Symptoms of OCD and Addiction?
- Recurrent and persistent thoughts, urges, or images that cause anxiety. These obsessions are intrusive, unwanted, and often unrealistic.
- Repetitive behaviors (compulsions) that the person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession. The compulsions are aimed at preventing or reducing anxiety but are excessive and not connected in a realistic way to the problem.
- Loss of time due to obsessions and compulsions. Spending at least 1 hour a day on these thoughts and behaviors.
- Significant problems with day-to-day functioning. Difficulty fulfilling responsibilities at work, school, or home due to OCD.
- Recognizing that the obsessions or compulsions are excessive or unreasonable, but feeling unable to stop them.
- Avoiding triggers for obsessions and compulsions when possible. This avoidance can disrupt life and activities.
- Engaging in the substance or behavior excessively and feeling a strong urge or compulsion to continue despite negative consequences.
- Difficulty in controlling the frequency or amount of substance use, or inability to stop engaging in the addictive behavior.
- Intense desires or cravings for the substance or activity, leading to a preoccupation with obtaining or engaging in it
- Prioritizing the addictive behavior over important obligations, such as work, school, or family responsibilities
- Experiencing physical or psychological symptoms when not engaging in the addictive behavior, leading to a cycle of dependency
- Withdrawing from social activities or relationships to prioritize the addictive behavior, resulting in a decline in overall well-being
- A diminishing interest in hobbies, activities, or relationships that were once enjoyable due to the increasing focus on addictive behavior
Mental health professionals need to conduct thorough assessments to differentiate between OCD and addiction, as well as to address any potential co-occurring conditions. Treatment approaches may vary, and a comprehensive understanding of the individual’s symptoms is crucial for effective intervention.
The Connection Between OCD and Addiction
OCD causes repeated, intrusive thoughts that trigger anxiety, fear, and distress. To relieve these uncomfortable feelings, a person with OCD performs compulsions like hand washing, checking locks, or hoarding. These compulsions provide temporary relief but the obsessions and anxiety soon return.
Addictive substances or behaviors activate the brain’s reward system, providing pleasure and an escape from problems or negative emotions. For someone with OCD, abusing substances such as alcohol or drugs can be used as a way to cope or self-medicate. Over time, this creates a cycle of addiction.
While OCD and addiction are distinct disorders, they share some similar features, like loss of control, preoccupation, and continuation despite negative consequences. However, compulsive behaviors in OCD are not motivated by pleasure or reward, like addiction. If you or someone you love shows signs of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and addiction, it’s important to get help right away. Dual diagnosis treatment can help identify the root causes of both conditions and find effective solutions.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment Is Crucial for OCD and Addiction
Dual diagnosis treatment addresses both your OCD and addiction at the same time. This is critical because these disorders often influence each other. For example, you may drink or do drugs to escape obsessive thoughts, or your OCD symptoms may worsen during withdrawal or periods of sobriety.
Dual diagnosis treatment uses therapies for each disorder that also complement the other’s treatment. Exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy helps reduce OCD symptoms while also making you better equipped to avoid relapse. Addiction counseling and social support help you develop coping strategies and a sober lifestyle to support your OCD recovery.
Dual diagnosis treatment also helps ensure any medications you’re prescribed do not interact, with or worsen symptoms of either disorder. Anti-anxiety or antidepressant medications for OCD must be carefully monitored with certain addictions. Close collaboration between psychiatrists, therapists, and doctors is key.
Research shows dual diagnosis treatment leads to better outcomes. People tend to stay in treatment longer, have fewer relapses, and report better quality of life compared to single-diagnosis treatment. Over time, you can achieve relief from distressing symptoms, develop healthy habits and coping skills, and find meaning and purpose in life.
OCD and Addiction Treatment in Florida
- Evidence-based treatment Services: Programs such as inpatient and outpatient rehab, behavioral therapies, 12-step support, medication management, etc.
- Behavioral Therapy Services: Therapy is utilized as a major component of a patient’s treatment plan for OCD and addiction such as holistic therapy, exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), individual therapy, group therapy, and others including ketamine therapy for addiction, ketamine therapy for mental health, neurofeedback, etc.
The benefits of dual diagnosis treatment are significant. By treating co-occurring OCD and addiction simultaneously, you have the best chance of overcoming destructive compulsions and maintaining long-term sobriety. Don’t lose hope – reach out for help right away.
Receive Treatment for OCD and Addiction at Ambrosia Behavioral Health
With a compassionate approach and a focus on holistic well-being, Ambrosia Behavioral Health is committed to guiding you on a path to recovery. Your journey to healing starts with a call—take that step now!
Dr. Alam is an internationally renowned psychiatrist with academic affiliations with Northwestern University and University of Illinois, Chicago where he completed his residency training. He has been a principal investigator for over forty studies and has been involved in research leading to the approval of most psychiatric medications currently on the market. He is the founder of the Neuroscience Research Institute which continues to conduct research on cutting edge medication and interventional psychiatry. Dr. Alam is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and the American Society of Addiction Medicine. He has won several awards and has been featured extensively on radio and television.
