What It Really Means to Be Diagnosed with OCD

When it comes to diagnosing OCD, there is no specific test available. However, healthcare providers utilize a comprehensive approach by thoroughly discussing your symptoms and examining your medical and mental health history. By doing so, they can accurately diagnose and provide appropriate treatment for OCD. Physicians use criteria set forth in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition to diagnose OCD.

Criteria includes:

• Experiencing obsessions, compulsions, or both in full force.
• Compulsions that can significantly consume a considerable amount of time, exceeding one hour per day.
• Obsessive thoughts that interfere with daily life and impact your ability to engage in social activities or work responsibilities.
• These symptoms are not a result of substances, alcohol, medications, or any other underlying medical condition.

Individuals living with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) often experience a combination of obsessions and compulsions.

Obsessions are persistent thoughts, urges, or mental images that intrude upon their minds, causing significant distress.

• Some common examples of obsessions include:
• Concerns of ensuring cleanliness and maintaining a germ-free environment
• The fear of forgetting, losing, or misplacing important items.
• The concern of relinquishing one’s autonomy and self-control. 
• Experiencing aggressive thoughts towards others or even oneself
• Constant or extreme thoughts of sex, or religion
• Overwhelming desire for symmetry and perfect order

Compulsions are inherent in human nature and can be described as repetitive actions that individuals feel compelled to perform. These behaviors typically arise as a response to obsessive thoughts or fixations.

• Some examples of common compulsions include:
• Excessive cleaning or handwashing
• Excessive organization and precise arrangement of items
• Obsessively double-checking things such as ensuring the door is securely locked, or the oven is turned off
• Engaging in compulsive counting or silently repeating words

If you are struggling with OCD, take heart in knowing that effective treatment options are available.

Psychotherapy has proven to be a highly effective treatment option for individuals struggling with OCD.

Examples of psychotherapy include:

• CBT, also known as cognitive-behavioral therapy, is an incredibly effective form of talk therapy. CBT is an effective method that empowers individuals to challenge and question negative thoughts. By understanding how these thoughts influence emotions and behaviors, people can then actively work towards changing self-defeating patterns.
• ERP, also known as exposure and response prevention therapy, has been extensively researched and proven to be highly effective in reducing compulsive behaviors. ERP offers individuals a secure space where they can gradually confront their obsessive triggers, like touching unclean objects. This therapeutic technique helps them refrain from engaging in compulsive acts such as excessive handwashing. By providing a controlled environment, ERP enables individuals to progress towards overcoming their obsessions and compulsions while ensuring their safety throughout the process.

Medication

Healthcare professionals often recommend medications to effectively manage and alleviate symptoms of OCD. The primary treatments prescribed for OCD are specialized antidepressants that specifically target serotonin, a vital neurotransmitter in the brain associated with both depression and OCD. These medications play a crucial role in providing relief and improving the overall well-being of individuals affected by OCD.

For individuals struggling with OCD, finding effective methods to manage symptoms is crucial. Many have discovered that a combination of medication and psychotherapy can be highly beneficial in providing relief and support.

TMS, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

With the FDA’s approval in 2018, a groundbreaking treatment option for severe OCD emerged: deep repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). This innovative approach, used with medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of both, has shown promising results for individuals who have not responded to other treatments.

rTMS, a noninvasive therapy that utilizes magnets to administer repeated low-intensity pulses to a specific area of the brain, is primarily recognized for its effectiveness in treating depression. With its gentle yet impactful approach, it has emerged as a widely used and highly regarded treatment option. One of the remarkable advantages of rTMS as a treatment option is its ability to precisely target and stimulate the specific brain regions associated with OCD. This targeted approach sets it apart from many other treatments, offering patients a more effective and personalized solution for their condition.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an advanced surgical procedure that utilizes the power of electricity to directly activate specific areas within the brain. This groundbreaking technique has shown great promise in revolutionizing treatments for various neurological conditions.

With OCD, there are many treatment options available. Consider talking to one of the professionals at OLYMPIA CENTER FOR TMS & PSYCHIATRY about our therapies and how we can help individuals with OCD.