With OCD affecting around 1 in every 100 adults, it is a problem spread across millions of people in the United States. With this in mind, there are a myriad of different OCD treatment options available. How do you go about navigating them to find what is right for you?
Below, we lay out some of the most common ones, so you can understand a little more about what they can do. As you read through, think about which would work for you if you have OCD, or what you might want to suggest to someone who does.
What Is OCD?
OCD, or obsessive-compulsive disorder, is a mental health condition. People with OCD often have recurring, troubling images or impulses that they consider every day. Sometimes these can become obsessions, or compulsions that can start to cause harm.
When they start to interfere with their daily life, someone may consider how they might want to treat OCD to help them return to a normal life.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
This is a form of psychotherapy that tries to help people understand the steps their body takes when their OCD becomes unmanageable. In that situation, they try to help people challenge their irrational drives that might cause harm.
In doing this, they aim to develop ways of thinking and acting that can help override the impulses OCD creates. This can often take a lot of time, especially if people are dealing with their OCD triggers a lot.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
While there are many medications available, SSRIs are one of the most common. As the name suggests, they prevent the body from absorbing the chemical serotonin. Usually, this chemical has the responsibility of regulating several mental processes.
While it does not work for everyone, in doing this, the body is often able to reduce how often any onset of OCD occurs. This might take a long time and requires the person to use a mood-altering drug. Still, it can offer a solution as the person engages in therapy long-term.
Ketamine Therapy
Ketamine, much like SSRIs, can alter the mental state of the user. They can often start to impact the brain’s neuroplasticity, allowing for a reorganization of its processes. If it can impact a person’s tendency to consider dangerous or obsessive scenarios, it may help people with OCD.
While research into this kind of therapy is still ongoing, enough exists that you can book into a ketamine therapy clinic today. You can even use it at the same time as other therapies, such as CBT, to ensure you get the most out of it.
Investigating Further OCD Treatment Options
As with any medication, there are many more OCD treatment options you can investigate. Still, the above are some of the most common topics you may find discussed in the medical profession.
If you want to know more about OCD and how to overcome it, we provide a lot more information on mental health on our site. So, check out our blog today and start becoming an expert in your own mind.
