Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Our Approach to OCD

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) does not discriminate. It can affect individuals of any age, social status, or background, and can have a significant negative impact in their lives. The providers and psychiatrists at Stedfast Psychiatry have compassion for anyone suffering with OCD and would be happy to provide highly effective treatment options to you if you are dealing with OCD. Come to Stedfast to find the right provider for you.

What is OCD?

Obsessive compulsive disorder affects people of all ages and walks of life, and occurs when a person gets caught in a cycle of obsessions and compulsions. The disorder is a mental illness that occurs when an individual experiences:

• Obsessions, which are unwanted and intrusive thoughts, images, or sensations
• Urges that trigger intensely distressing feelings or lead to repetitive behavior
• Compulsions, or behaviors to eliminate obsessions or decrease anxiety.

While you may hear some individuals say that they have “a little OCD” or that their “OCD has kicked in,” it is important to differentiate OCD from those minor obsessions or compulsions that occur from time to time with the average person. For example ,cleaning your home once a week would definitely not qualify as compulsive behavior, but doing it 3 times in a day would likely be considered compulsive.

Obsessions are thoughts, images or impulses that occur over and over again and feel outside of the person’s control. People with OCD do not want to have these thoughts and may even find them disturbing. They may even realize that these thoughts don’t make any sense.  Obsessions are typically accompanied by intense and uncomfortable feelings such as fear, disgust, doubt, or a need to have things done “just right.”

Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or thoughts that a person uses with the intention of neutralizing, counteracting, or dealing with their obsessions. They can also often function as a type of ritual. People with OCD know this is only a temporary solution but have no better way to cope. So they rely on the compulsion as a temporary escape. Compulsions can also include avoiding situations that trigger obsessions.

For OCD sufferers, these obsessions and compulsions are often time consuming and get in the way of important activities the person values. This last part is critical to the diagnosis of obsessive compulsive disorder, as it defines the difference between an obsessive personality or a true psychological disorder. OCD is a chronic condition that often gets worse the more a person tries to ignore or stop the obsessions.

What are the main symptoms of OCD?

The primary symptoms of OCD are obsessions and compulsions. However, these obsessions and compulsions can take different forms for any individual with OCD. Each patient’s OCD is, in many ways, unique. With that in mind, some common signs of obsessions and compulsions with OCD include:

• Fear of contamination by people or the environment
• Intrusive thoughts or images, which are often unpleasant, violent, sexual, or inappropriate
• Aversion to uncertainty and doubts, causing repetitive behavior (checking a door to see if it’s locked, checking the knob to verify the stove is turned off)
• Avoiding situations that trigger their obsessions, like shaking hands, being in large groups, or touching particular objects (ex: door knobs)
• Extreme stress when objects are not arranged the “correct” way
• Have a need for repeated reassurance about certain things
• Silently repeating certain words, phrases, or prayers
• Washing your hands until they are red and raw

Some common themes of obsessions and compulsions with OCD include:

• Fear of losing control
• Fear of harm
• Need for evenness, exactness, or certainty
• Fear of contamination
• Unwanted sexual thoughts

Since OCD can take many different forms, the above signs and symptoms are not meant to be exhaustive but rather to highlight some of the more common types of obsessions and compulsions that a person suffering with OCD might experience.

What causes OCD?

While psychiatric researchers have not yet found the cause of OCD, there are some theories about its cause, as well as known risk factors which are understood to increase one’s likelihood of developing OCD. With that in mind, mental health professionals believe that some combination of biology, genetics, and learned behavior are what causes OCD. Stressful or traumatic life experiences, other mental illnesses, and a family history of OCD are all risk factors that increase one’s risk of developing obsessive compulsive disorder.

Where can I get help for my OCD?

If you are dealing with OCD, a well-respected psychiatric provider in your area like Stedfast Psychiatry can provide excellent care and treatment. If you live in or near Boynton Beach, Florida, we would love to help you find effective ways of managing and overcoming your OCD.

If you would like to learn more about our OCD treatment services available at Stedfast Psychiatry or are interested in making an appointment with one of our psychiatrists, call us today. We serve patients from Boynton Beach FL, Palm Beach Gardens FL, Jupiter FL, West Palm Beach FL, Riviera Beach FL, Century Village FL, Lake Park FL, and North Palm Beach FL.