Dual diagnosis with drug addiction and alcoholism is typical. The use of substances such as heroin, cocaine, and other prescriptions intensifies mental health disorders such as OCD. Reports of body dysmorphic disorder (fear of imagined ugliness) in OCD patients are also prevalent as hypochondriasis. Eating disorders such as binge eating may be more common in OCD patients than in general. OCD symptoms are common in anorexia nervosa, second only to depressive disorders. Trichotillomania (compulsive hair pulling with bald spots) is another comorbidity of OCD, as is Tourette’s syndrome (the combination of vocal and behavioral tics).
OCD accounted for almost 6% of the estimated 1990 cost of all mental illnesses. High social costs are also reflected in the high rates of unemployment in OCD patients and the receipt of disability and welfare payments. Family members suffer as well. Many studies indicate that patients’ symptoms may create disharmony, angry or anguished demands for participating in rituals, a draining dependency, restricted access to rooms or living space, difficulty taking holidays, and disruption with work obligations.
Do you constantly experience many obsessive thoughts and actions described above and “need” to wash excessively and with no reason? Check that you have done things correctly over and over or do other behaviors repeatedly, and all this leads to very negative consequences. You may have an obsessive-compulsive disorder. In California, we provide the latest evidence-based practices, such as CBT, ACT, and DBT, among other science-based modalities that have been proven to work. Are you coming from out of state, Texas or New York? We at La Jolla Recovery can help.
