Obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, is a mental health illness affecting millions of teens and adults yearly. There are healthy ways to manage OCD symptoms that you can do at home in addition to therapy and medication in cases of severe symptoms. OCD symptoms can range in severity from mild fear to uncontrollable thoughts and behaviors that disrupt daily life. OCD treatment in Portland is available for men and women who need help managing OCD symptoms.
At Crestview Recovery, we support men and women 18 and over from all walks of life who are struggling with OCD or other mental health disorders. We offer residential and outpatient treatment programs that utilize behavioral and holistic therapies and medication-assisted treatment to address OCD symptoms in a safe environment. Call 866.262.0531 or fill out our online form today to see how our mental health treatment programs in Portland can reduce your symptoms.
What is OCD?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is an anxiety disorder where men and women experience uncontrollable and unwanted thoughts, rituals, or repetitive behaviors that they must perform to relieve their symptoms. Even if they know their thoughts are irrational, they are still unable to resist them. OCD affects men and women of all ages, with some experiencing symptoms as early as ten.
There are two main aspects of OCD that therapists will address during therapy to develop healthy techniques for managing OCD, obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are unhealthy thoughts or impulses that persist to the point of causing the person to perform a task to get rid of the obsessive thoughts. Compulsions are behaviors or rituals that they must perform to relieve their obsessive thoughts.
Compulsions that are common with OCD include:
- Always having to double or triple-check locks when leaving the house
- Spending an unusual amount of time cleaning
- Needing to have everything around them organized and in its proper place
- Counting, tapping or repeating words or phrases to reduce anxiety
- Rigorously avoiding places or activities that could trigger obsessions
These compulsions can consume large amounts of time and energy, making it hard for people with OCD to lead a normal life. It is important to seek help from a doctor or mental health professional if you are having symptoms of OCD so that the appropriate treatment can be given.
7 Ways to Manage OCD Symptoms
Managing OCD symptoms can be relatively easy when you participate in behavioral therapy and practice healthy coping skills that can reduce many of the common symptoms of OCD. For more severe cases of OCD, medication can reduce the symptoms causing a major disruption in their lives.
Here are seven techniques for managing OCD symptoms that you will develop during therapy:
1. Identify your triggers
Understanding what triggers your compulsions will go a long way toward stopping any behaviors that are getting in the way. For example, having to check the stove ten times to be sure it’s off.
2. Develop coping skills to ignore compulsions
Behavioral therapists will help you identify the obsessive thoughts that trigger the behavior and teach you how to ignore and replace those thoughts. During group therapy, you will practice these skills to build your confidence in managing your symptoms.
3. Challenge obsessive thoughts
OCD can cause your brain to get stuck on a particular thought that you cannot get rid of without acting on it. Therapists will teach you to process the repetitive thoughts without the urge to act on them. They’ll also teach you how to replace those anxiety-inducing thoughts with more positive ones.
4. Keep a daily journal
Writing is a very therapeutic activity that gives you a chance to revisit stressful moments and the thoughts they caused and the behavior that they triggered. This can help you and your therapist develop the skills that will benefit you the most.
5. Exercise regularly
Regular physical activity can help reduce anxiety and increase overall well-being. Exercise releases endorphins that act as natural mood boosters. It also helps you to process your thoughts differently, which is beneficial if you have OCD.
6. Practice mindfulness meditation
Mindfulness meditation can help you become aware of thoughts and emotions that trigger the need to act out compulsions. You can learn to observe your thoughts without judging or reacting to them, allowing you to process them in a more healthy way.
7. Seek professional help
If your symptoms are severe, then it may be time to seek treatment from a mental health professional or psychiatrist. They will be able to recommend a treatment plan tailored specifically to your needs. This can include psychotherapy, medications, or a combination of both.
Crestview Recovery Offers Effective Techniques for Managing OCD
Crestview Recovery provides men and women 18 and over with healthy ways to manage OCD through a combination of behavioral and holistic therapies and medication-assisted treatment. We offer residential and outpatient treatment programs to help with substance use disorders, panic disorders, OCD, and other mental health disorders. If you or a loved one is struggling with OCD and want help managing symptoms, call 866.262.0531 today to speak with our compassionate staff about making positive changes in your life.
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.
