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OCD Treatment

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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Therapy in San Diego

At La Jolla Recovery, we provide a human-centered and non-judgment approach to O.C.D. and mental health in San Diego. Because embracing the core of the human experience is one that goes beyond all symptoms, we believe that the latest in a science-based approach to O.C.D. as well as an environment of healing transforms any challenges suffered from mental health. Welcome to a home of healing at La Jolla Recovery.

 

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than 3.6 million Americans are diagnosed with O.C.D. It’s a condition characterized by unwanted urges and thoughts that generate high anxiety levels and repetitive acts to neutralize obsessional thought.

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When OCD starts hurting you or others

The obsessive-compulsive disorder starts gradually and can be a minor irritation for years, eventually getting to the point where symptoms can no longer be denied.

You may, for example, deal with the obsessive thought of keeping things cleaner. Taking a shower three times a day might not affect anyone much. It becomes pretty obnoxious if this increases to spending one hour in the bathroom every morning. Reading 1 or 2 newspapers at the breakfast table is o.k. Taking more than four hours and compulsively cutting the repetitive news of your most significant interest may take time for your duties or interacting with your family/partner, hindering household cleaning duties. If you’re wondering if you or a loved one has OCD, let us answer your questions to receive therapy.

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Intrusive and Obsessive Thoughts

Someone with OCD has intrusive thoughts that cause discomfort. The obsessive thoughts may be a fear of causing a fire or catching a disease, needing to organize/mess up things in a certain way. It is also common to have intrusive thoughts about morals and religion or taboo thoughts about harming others. To get rid of such anxiety, it is common to engage in different behaviors (called compulsions). Common compulsive behaviors are checking the stove too many times or repeatedly washing the car or clothes.

Compulsive Behaviors

Compulsive behaviors are done to reduce anxiety or to prevent harmful events from taking place. The obsessions and compulsions cause significant distress, are time-consuming or cause impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

When OCD starts impacting every day life

OCD often leads to limitations in everyday life. It makes people depressed because of the terrible impact OCD can have on one’s life. Family and friends become involved in the obsessions and compulsions, and these relationships are often negatively affected. Without treatment, it is almost impossible to break the negative spiral caused by OCD.

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Comorbidity and Anxiety Disorders

Clients think that many of their thoughts are illogical and don't 'make sense. Since the current Covid-19 pandemic, they feel like they're right back at square one where they can't control them. Clients who could talk themselves out of those illogical thoughts and calm quickly because they have lived with their usual triggers for so long are now going through a massive crisis because the coronavirus pandemic is a brand new trigger. They don't have the tools yet to deal with it.
For most clients who come to mental health treatment at La Jolla Recovery, OCD appears to be a chronic condition. It has been reported –for instance- that 85% had a continuous course with waxing and waning symptoms, 10% a deteriorative course, and only 2% an episodic course marked by complete remissions lasting six months or more.
Clients with OCD are at high risk of having comorbid (co-existing) major depression and other anxiety disorders. The most common concurrent conditions are major depression, social phobia, eating disorder, simple phobia, panic disorder, and Tourette's syndrome. Panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder are among the most common as well. OCD seems to be associated with a mildly increased risk for alcohol abuse and dependence. Rates of OCD observed among alcoholic patients admitted to inpatient and outpatient treatment programs surpass the pace in the general population, but not to the extent suggested by Karno et al.'s study in 1988, which attributed alcohol abuse or dependence to 24% of OCD subjects.

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OCD Symptoms and Treatment

Dual diagnosis with drug addiction and alcoholism is typical. The use of substances such as heroin, cocaine, and other prescriptions intensify mental health disorders such as OCD. Reports of body dysmorphic disorder (fear of imagined ugliness) in OCD patients are also prevalent and 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 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. Are you coming from out of states, such as Texas or New York? We at La Jolla Recovery can help.

Let our team of professionals at La Jolla Recovery share with you our optimism for mental health. From best practices to options, we are here to help. Our mental health specialists will give you the expert advice and treatment you need.

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