Obsessions and compulsions
OCD Treatment
OCD pairs unreasonable, repetitive thoughts with compulsive behaviors meant to quiet them. It is a treatable disorder — and treatment starts with finding the root of it.
About this condition
OCD treatment
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is triggered by fears and anxiety that are often irrational, driving compulsions a person believes will keep those fears from coming true — even as the rituals add stress of their own. Common forms include checking, contamination fears, symmetry and order, and ruminations or intrusive thoughts.
Left untreated, OCD tends to intensify: the behaviors grow in frequency and intensity, and they crowd out school, work, and relationships. Effective treatment can drastically improve quality of life — starting with understanding why the OCD is occurring.
OCD treatment at the Neuroscience Institute is offered at two levels of care: a residential program for immersive, structured healing away from daily chaos, and an intensive outpatient program that fits treatment around family, work, and school.
Signs and symptoms of OCD
Knowing the signs helps you notice them in yourself or someone you love. People may have one or more types of OCD, or symptoms that cross over between them. Typical indicators include:
- Emphasizing a certain order, or taking an action a specific number of times
- Excessive hand washing
- Hoarding
- Irrational worry about your own safety or health, or that of loved ones
- Phobia of contamination or germs
- Repetitive checking of locks, alarms, or appliances
- Constant awareness of normal body functions such as blinking or breathing
- Intrusive, often disturbing thoughts
- Compulsive cleaning or organizing
What causes OCD
The exact cause of OCD remains unclear, but several factors are believed to play a role:
Hereditary factors
Having family members with OCD raises your own risk of developing it.
Trauma or excessive stress
Traumatic events and severe stress can make a person more susceptible to intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors.
Brain chemistry
Changes in the brain or hormone levels may be associated with the disorder.
Co-occurring disorders
Anxiety, depression, PTSD, and substance use disorders often relate to the development of OCD.
Learned behaviors
Some people develop OCD after growing up around close family or friends who exhibited symptoms of the disorder.
Why treatment helps
The primary benefit of treatment is finding and addressing the root cause of the disorder — in some cases, that alone can dramatically reduce the intensity of symptoms. Therapy also gives people with OCD something they rarely allow themselves: a safe space to say their thoughts out loud. Verbalizing troublesome thoughts, without fear of judgment, is often the first step in overcoming the fear inside them. From there, treatment builds coping skills so symptoms stop controlling daily life.
The risks of skipping treatment run the other way. Untreated OCD is linked to stalled progress at school or work, substance abuse, social withdrawal, damaged relationships, and financial hardship. OCD is a treatable disorder — getting help changes its course.
Therapies used in OCD treatment
An individualized OCD treatment plan at the Neuroscience Institute may combine:
- Individual, group, and family therapy sessions
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Neurofeedback therapy
- Medications such as SRIs and SSRIs
- Yoga, meditation, massage therapy, and acupuncture
- Outdoor activities and nutritional guidance
Choosing a level of care
Residential treatment offers continuous services and structure: clients live at the facility, away from the chaos of normal life, and focus on healing in an immersive environment. An intensive outpatient program (IOP) runs several days a week for a few hours a day, so clients live at home and keep up with family, work, and school while in treatment.
Whichever level fits, look for what matters in any OCD program: a safe and supportive environment, experienced and compassionate staff, a detailed discharge plan with long-term support, and treatment that includes more than sitting in a chair.
Ready to talk with admissions?
Admissions is available 24/7 to answer questions about mental health and substance use treatment options.