Do you live your daily life in fear of contamination? Do you constantly wash your hands to avoid dirt and germs? Does your mind race with thoughts of being stuck in a place, or do you keep a snack handy in fear of starvation? All these are examples of obsessive-compulsive disorder. The question every one of you is probably wondering now is, ‘Can OCD be cured?’
Unfortunately, no! OCD does not have a permanent cure, but there are various treatment plans available for people suffering from OCD.
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If you or a loved one suffers from OCD and want help, contact Therapy Fleet now. OCD is a chronic illness and a medical condition that requires medical attention. Our team of mental health professionals will guide you and present all the treatment options so that you, too, can lead a normal OCD-free life.
These unwelcoming thoughts do not allow an individual to relax; with the mind always on the go, life for an individual with OCD gets tough. These repeated, compulsive behaviors drain a person’s energy, and their quality of life decreases because of negative thoughts.
Recognize the Signs of OCD to Get Start Your Treatment
OCD consists of different signs and symptoms. As the name itself tells, ocd is characterized by obsessive, compulsive, and excessive unwanted thoughts or actions. People usually think OCD is an obsession with being clean, but that’s not it. OCD is a wide term and varies from individual to individual. However, one common factor among OCD people is anxiety, fear of the unknown, and intrusive excessive thoughts. Due to this, these individuals find it tough to concentrate or complete a task.
Some common severe OCD symptoms are;
- The need to measure, rearrange, and count items
- Avoiding specific numbers
- Fear of making mistakes
- Reading, reviewing, and rewriting again and again
- And the fear of germs, dirt, and contamination
All these are psychological symptoms. Usually, teens with OCD have physical symptoms like gut issues, anxiety disorder, and fatigue.
Can OCD be Cured? What Can be the Treatment Options
As a parent of a child or teen with OCD, or as an adult living with OCD is distraught, but there is no permanent cure to OCD. However, your healthcare provider will tell you methods to manage the symptoms to reduce the negative impact on your life.
The most common treatment is; medical and therapy. For some, both are combined, or a combination of medications is used.
1. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Treatment plan
There might not be any cure for OCD, but it is treatable. Different types of therapies combined with medications help individuals manage their symptoms. Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy (ERP) is one of the most used therapy.
Let’s look at some other treatment options.
2. Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy helps an individual take control of their intrusive thoughts. Although CBT cognitive behavioral therapy is also used, ERP remains the gold standard method. In ERP, the therapist will create a triggering moment for the person with OCD and teach them ways to manage the obsessive thoughts and repetitive behaviors as s result of those thoughts.
3. Mindfulness
Practicing mindfulness on a daily basis keeps the anxiety levels low. So, indulging in yoga, acupuncture, and meditation helps the person stay calm overall.
The focus of OCD treatments is to keep the focus on managing the symptoms rather than finding a cure because OCD cannot be cured.
OCD Medications- Get an Online Prescription Plan
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are often used to manage the symptoms of Obsessive-compulsive disorder when therapy alone does not show visible results.
Make sure you ask the following before starting any medicine. For a same-day OCD prescription or for a medical evaluation, simply contact us today!
Selection of the Medicine
As OCD cannot be cured but medicines will be prescribed if your doctor feels the need to. The goal is controling the symptoms with a low dose initially. You will probably try a lot of different medicines before settling on one of them. What works for you might not work for others. Be patient, as it may take some time for symptoms to reduce
Common Side Effects of OCD Prescription Medication
If you experience any serious side effects after starting a medicine, it’s time to discuss it with your doctor. All medications have side effects, but if it’s severe and troubling, then step forward and share your concerns.
Drug Interactions
Drug interactions are common with all medications. Please discuss the complete list of OTC, herbal and any other medicines you use on a regular basis. Some antidepressants react with other chemicals, reducing their effectiveness or causing a harmful reaction.
Stopping Your Medicine
Never attempt to stop any antidepressant on your own without prior consultation with your medical professionals. Some antidepressants cause dependency, and blocking them out of the blue leads to withdrawal effects. If you think your medicine is not working, and you want to stop it for any reason, discuss it with the mental health professional first.
Other Treatment Options to Manage OCD
At times, OCD is not managed with medicines and therapy alone. In that case, other options are available, including;
1. Deep Brain Stimulation DBS
Adults who do not respond to traditional methods of treatment for OCD are then shifted to DBS. This FDA-approved method involves putting electrodes in specific areas of the brain. The electrodes then create electrical impulses that control impulsivity in OCD patients. DBS is not so common and is hardly used.
2. Intensive Outpatient and Residential Treatment
These treatments last for a few weeks in a row, and the principles of ERP therapy are applied to individuals with OCD.
3. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation TMS
Three TMS devices with FDA approval are namely;
- MagVenture
- Neurostar
- BrainsWay
TMS is only used when the traditional methods to treat OCD fail. In TMS, magnetic fields are stimulated in the brain cells, making the symptoms of OCD manageable. TMS requires the patient to wear an electromagnetic coil around the scalp near the forehead.
Note– These treatments are the last resort for OCD patients.
Unfortunately, the anser to can OCD be cured or prevented is no. However, getting the right treatment at the right time helps manage the symptoms.
Conclusion
OCD is a mental health disorder and needs treatment. OCD treatment differs. Can OCD be cured? The answer is no, but with the latest technology in the medical field and new antidepressants, people with OCD can lead a near-normal life even with OCD. If you or your family members suffer, it’s time to reach out.
Living with OCD can drain the energy out of a person; you feel compelled to keep yourself busy to keep that thought and action away. But help is around; reach out now. Don’t be hard on yourself. Talk to a healthcare provider now.
With determination and support, OCD can be overcome, allowing individuals to reclaim their lives and find peace.
FAQs
1. How does a person with OCD behave?
People with OCD have compulsive thoughts that they know are irrelevant, yet they can’t control them. Living with OCD can waste so much time of the person and seriously affect their lives.
2. Can OCD be cured?
No, OCD, like diabetes and asthma, can only be controlled, not cured. It is a chronic condition. Even without the symptoms, the risk of relapse is present.
