Obsessive-compulsive disorder (COD) is a chronic psychological condition that involves obsessions, compulsions, or both. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), OCD affects two to three percent of Americans. People with OCD typically experience obsessions (repetitive, unwanted thoughts) that prompt an extreme urge to repeat a specific behavior. They then act out that urge (compulsion) to help relieve the obsessive thought. Many people with OCD are undiagnosed and struggle daily to understand their behavior. Many turn to alcohol or drug use to relieve symptoms, resulting in substance use disorders.
At Ashwood Recovery in Boise, Idaho, we understand the challenges of living with OCD. We proudly offer Promise, a highly structured and personalized outpatient program for those whose primary diagnosis is mental health-related. We want to help you or your loved one learn to manage OCD to live a healthy, happy, and fulfilling life. Contact our team at 888.341.3607 to learn more.
Signs You Need Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Treatment
The National Institute of Mental Health defines OCD as “a common, chronic, and long-lasting disorder in which a person has uncontrollable, recurring thoughts (obsessions) or behaviors (compulsions) that he or she feels the urge to repeat over and over.” OCD occurs on a spectrum with symptoms ranging from mild to severe. However, even milder symptoms of OCD can be disruptive to daily life and physically and psychologically painful and exhausting.
People with OCD may have symptoms of obsessions, compulsions, or both. These symptoms can interfere with all aspects of life, such as work, school, and personal relationships. Following is a look at common obsessions and compulsions:
Obsessions
The content of obsessive thoughts can vary widely, but a few common themes include:
- Worries about germs, dirt, or illness
- Fears of harming yourself or someone else
- Fears of saying something offensive or obscene
- A need to have your possessions aligned, orderly, or symmetrical
- Explicit sexual or violent thoughts
- Worries about throwing things away
- Questioning your sexual desires or orientation
- Concerns about the health and safety of yourself or your loved ones
- Intrusive images, words, or sounds
These unwanted and intrusive thoughts come back, no matter how hard you try to ignore or suppress them. Their very persistence can lead to an even stronger conviction that they might be true or come true if you don’t take steps to prevent them.
Compulsions
Examples of compulsive behaviors in OCD include:
- Excessively washing your hands, objects, or body
- Organizing or aligning things in a specific way
- Counting or repeating specific phrases
- Touching something a set number of times
- Seeking reassurance from others
- Collecting particular objects or buying several of the same items
- Hiding things you could use to hurt yourself or someone else
- Mentally going over your actions to make sure you haven’t harmed anyone else
Compulsions are a response to obsessions. Once an obsession surfaces, you might feel compelled to take action to relieve the anxiety and distress it causes or keep that obsessive thought from coming true. You might feel the need to repeat these actions a specific number of times or until things seem “just right.” If you make a mistake during the ritual, you might believe that it won’t work unless you start from the beginning and finish it perfectly.
PROMISE: Mental Health Treatment for OCD in Boise, Idaho
Designed specifically for clients who need to continue the stabilization process after leaving an inpatient care program, Ashwood Recovery’s Promise is a highly structured and personalized outpatient program for people whose primary diagnosis is mental health-related.
Promise is run as a partial hospitalization program (PHP), offering professional clinical treatment to those with acute psychotic and severe mental health issues which require intensive day hospitalization to help them transition back into a more independent lifestyle.
Promise provides comprehensive mental health treatment that includes:
- Mental health education
- Trauma work
- Experiential activities
- Yoga and Tai Chi
- Art therapy
- Skill building
- Process group
- Music therapy
- Goal setting and evaluation
At Ashwood Recovery, we understand that everyone has different needs for their mental health. We are cautious about tailoring the program to help people individually. Patients can connect with nursing staff and their psychiatrist daily if needed. We offer medication management and prescriptions for medications that are not habit-forming. Our clients also participate in group therapy, family therapy, and individual therapy.
Choose the Ashwood Recovery Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Treatment Program in Boise, Idaho
At Ashwood Recovery, we are dedicated to meeting the needs of our clients. The pain of living with the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder is extremely disruptive, and we are here to help.
Do you think you might have OCD? Would you like to talk with someone about getting treatment in Boise? Please contact us today at 888.341.3607.