Living with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) can be scary and isolating, but you’re not alone: research shows that more than 2% of adults are dealing with OCD. Plus, relief is possible with proper treatment. Our experts at Northeast Health Services have experience with exposure and response prevention (ERP), the leading therapy for OCD. Plus, our psychiatric experts can prescribe antianxiety medication if necessary to help target the OCD from all sides.
We provide a personalized approach that involves identifying triggers, establishing healthy coping mechanisms, and understanding how to manage anxiety. Contact us today at 508.794.8711 or fill out a quick form to get started with OCD treatment in Massachusetts.
Signs & Symptoms of OCD
OCD is marked by intense, overwhelming anxiety in reaction to specific “obsessions.” Often, people with OCD will temporarily relieve their anxious feelings by performing a “compulsion.” The most common example of this in media is an obsession with contamination, where someone may constantly ruminate about the germs on their hands and therefore wash their hands an excessive amount. Someone with relationship OCD may be obsessed with the thought of their partner leaving them, and seek constant reassurance from their partner that this isn’t the case.
Many compulsions aren’t visible at all, may be well hidden, or could be entirely mental. Some call forms of OCD with invisible compulsions “Pure O,” or “purely obsessional.” This is a bit of a misnomer, as the person still performs mental compulsions. For example, someone might have intense fears about harming their baby and respond with a mental compulsion of reciting prayers in their mind for hours each day. Or, they may fear cheating on their partner and respond by mentally reviewing their actions over and over to ensure they didn’t cheat.
A person with OCD might find themselves struggling to complete regular tasks like making breakfast or going to the store because of their compulsive obsessions. Moreover, they may feel inhibited in social situations due to their uncontrollable compulsions.
Symptoms of OCD can include:
- Disturbing intrusive thoughts or images
- Nightmares
- Panic attacks
- Avoiding triggers
- Guilt or stress over compulsive behaviors
- Repeatedly checking things
- Constantly seeking reassurance or approval
To be diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder, a person must have persistent and recurrent intrusive thoughts or behaviors that they feel compelled to perform for at least one hour each day.
Common Fixations for Those With OCD
OCD is often categorized by fixation, with many common obsessions focusing on:
- Perfectionism: Concern about precision or exactness, evenness, losing or forgetting things
- Contamination: From bodily fluids, germs, dirt, chemicals, etc.
- Relationship: Obsessing over whether a partner is cheating, whether you might cheat, extreme fears of breaking up
- Harm: Intentionally doing something that hurts others or failing to be careful
- Superstitions: Related to lucky or unlucky numbers, objects, dates, etc.
- Religiosity: Fear of offending God or concern with ethics or morality
- Death or harm coming to a loved one: Fear of a loved one getting into a car crash or dying of disease
- Unwanted sexual thoughts: Intrusive perverse, forbidden, or aggressive sexual thoughts that cause distress
Are you or a loved one dealing with OCD?
It can feel like there’s no end in sight when you’re in an OCD spiral, but the right treatments are proven to significantly relieve OCD symptoms. NEHS offers OCD treatment in Boston, Springfield, Worcester, Cambridge, and across Massachusetts to help you start to feel better.
What Can Cause OCD?
There isn’t just one cause of OCD. Instead, studies have shown that certain people are more prone genetically, then it can be set off by a stressful life event. It’s generally agreed upon that there are hereditary, biological, and environmental factors that influence the development of OCD.
OCD is typically cause by a confluence of the following factors:
- Genetic causes: Although experts haven’t targeted one exact gene that “causes OCD,” research shows that people who have a close relative with OCD are far more likely to develop the condition.
- Brain chemistry: Research has shown that people with OCD are likely to have issues creating and processing serotonin, similar to those with other forms of anxiety and depression.
- Environmental causes: Not everyone with a genetic predisposition will go on to develop OCD. In fact, it’s often triggered by a traumatic or stressful life event.
Treatment for OCD
OCD treatment often involves both therapy and medication, targeting any brain chemical deficiencies while also learning new ways to cope with obsessions and deal with the underlying causes of the anxiety. For some, adding TMS could greatly reduce symptoms.
Therapy for OCD
The leading OCD therapy is called exposure and response prevention (ERP), which “exposes” someone to their triggers without engaging in their corresponding compulsions. Separating out the obsessions and compulsion can re-train the brain to move away from using compulsions as a “solve” for their anxiety and help them start to see that their obsessions aren’t based in reality.
Our therapists may incorporate other forms of therapy alongside ERP, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to learn emotion regulation skills, or trauma therapy, depending on the personalized needs of the client.
OCD Medication
One of our psychiatric providers will work with you to develop a personalized medication plan based on your unique needs and body composition. For some, since OCD can be influenced by a lack of serotonin in the brain, your psychiatrist might prescribe medication like an SSRI or SNRI. These help the brain produce and process more serotonin, therefore boosting mood and relieving some anxiety symptoms. Other people may find relief from different anxiety or mood stabilizing medications, and it may take a few tries to find the one that’s best for your needs.
TMS for OCD
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is an FDA-approved treatment for OCD and other mental health conditions. It involves stimulating certain parts of the brain with magnetic pulses, helping promote activity in regions that may be underperforming.
What’s the Outlook for Someone With OCD?
OCD can be debilitating, but thankfully it typically responds well to appropriate treatment. In fact, 60-85% of clients who finished their ERP regimen saw significant decrease in symptoms. Catching it early can help, too—early treatment can sometimes make the compulsions easier to address. So, if you think you may have OCD, it’s worth talking to an expert right away.
Benefits of OCD Treatment at Northeast Health Services
With the proper treatment plan, people with OCD can learn to recognize their triggers, gain insights into their underlying anxieties, and disconnect from their compulsions. That’s what we provide at Northeast Health Services: A team of experts dedicated to getting you the care you deserve.
Here are just a few of the benefits of working with our team of experts at NEHS:
- We accept most insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, meaning your out-of-pocket costs could be quite low for therapy and/or medication.
- We have conveniently located clinics in Boston, Cambridge, Springfield, Worcester, and across Massachusetts so there’s sure to be an option nearby. Plus, you can receive care through telehealth if you and your providers think that’s a good fit for your needs.
- Our experts can help you learn more about your obsessions, compulsions, and any underlying anxiety or trauma that might be making symptoms worse.
- Your care team will collaborate to ensure your treatment plan is comprehensive.
Find OCD Treatment at Northeast Health Services
At Northeast Health Services, we are dedicated to helping all our neighbors access life-changing mental health services for our neighbors in Boston, Cambridge, Springfield, Worcester, and across Massachusetts. We offer therapy, medication, and other cutting-edge services to children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families, and take most major insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid.
Here’s what you can expect when you seek OCD treatment from Northeast Health Services:
- Get started with a quick intake call or fill out a form to be contacted
- Work with our intake team to understand your insurance coverage and any copays you might be responsible for, so you know what to expect before beginning treatment
- Schedule your first appointment for therapy, psychiatry, or both—at one of our convenient clinic locations or telehealth if appropriate
- Receive ongoing support with medication, lifestyle changes, and other cutting-edge treatments like TMS (if deemed appropriate by your care team)
If you think you are experiencing an anxiety disorder like OCD, call us today at 508.794.8711 or fill out a brief form to get started with personalized care from our expert therapists and psychiatric professionals.
FAQs About OCD
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Can I treat OCD myself?
It’s not recommended that people try to treat their own OCD. Therapy, namely exposure and response prevention (ERP) has been proven to effectively treat OCD, but it shouldn’t be done without the support of a highly trained therapist. However, once you’ve gone through this therapy, it’s possible that you can practice some of the techniques on your own to help manage your obsessions and compulsions.
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What should I do when my OCD is out of control?
If your obsessions are spiraling out of control, the more you try to avoid the thought the more it can take over. Instead of resisting, try sitting with the thoughts, naming them, or even try exaggerating or making fun of the intrusive thoughts. Some people use grounding objects or mantras to help distract themselves from following through on compulsions. In the long term, working with a therapist can help you have fewer events where you feel out of control.
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What does an OCD meltdown look like?
An OCD meltdown, or episode, involves a storm of intense anxious thoughts and emotions that all hit at once. The intensity can be different for each person, but can also involve physical symptoms like a spike in heart rate, sweatiness, and shaking.
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At what age does OCD usually start?
There are two life stages in which OCD is most likely to manifest: early onset typically happens between the ages of seven and 12, and later onset in early adulthood, at around age 20. On average, children and teens struggle with their symptoms for over two years before being assessed by a mental health professional—if you think your child may have OCD or anxiety, don’t hesitate to get them the care they deserve.
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What happens if OCD is left untreated?
Since OCD symptoms can start gradually and worsen over time, without treatment, you can expect these symptoms to continue to spiral. It’s common for someone with untreated OCD to start to avoid social situations and isolate from friends and family, struggle with work or school, and start missing important responsibilities. They may also develop a substance use issue in order to cope with symptoms.
Sources:
- https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd
- https://iocdf.org/about-ocd/what-causes-ocd/
- https://www.imrpress.com/journal/JIN/21/3/10.31083/j.jin2103097
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9490-ocd-obsessive-compulsive-disorder
- https://iocdf.org/about-ocd/who-gets-ocd/