Signs and Symptoms of OCD<\/h2>\n
If you have OCD, you may either experience obsessive thoughts regularly or compulsive actions or even both. Some people experience one of the two while others experience both and this is the common case.<\/p>\n
Obsessions include:<\/strong><\/p>\n Compulsions include:<\/strong><\/p>\n NB<\/strong>: Although all habits are not obsessions and compulsions but if you are unable to control these thoughts and behaviors, you spend at least one hour a day on them, you don\u2019t derive any pleasure at all but a feeling of relief from anxiety they cause and experience major problems in your day to day activities then you have OCD.<\/p>\n Antidepressants (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRI<\/strong><\/a>) are the medicines that are usually prescribed to patients with OCD.<\/p>\n The medicines are in tablets and capsule form. The several antidepressants approved by the FDA include fluvoxamine, fluoxetine, sertraline, venlafaxine etc. They help you treat the symptoms of OCD by increasing the level of a chemical called serotonin in your brain.<\/p>\n It may take up to 12 weeks before you begin to notice improvement and some people may be treated for up to a year or more. The common side effects of these medications include dizziness, diarrhea, feeling agitated, headaches and low sex drives.<\/p>\n The use of this drug is not suitable for pregnant and breastfeeding women. So if you’ll please consider using any of the natural treatments explained below.<\/p>\n Researches have proven that the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is by far a superior and effective form of treatment compared to all other forms of treatment.<\/p>\n Over 70% of patients with OCD are tremendously helped by cognitive behavioral therapy.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Cognitive behavioral therapy does not have any risks or side effects associated with it and this means you should greatly consider it as a big option for treating your OCD.<\/p>\n Good news about this treatment is the fact that you can be treated through cognitive behavioral therapy if you are pregnant. You can read more about the benefits of CBT for OCD in pregnancy<\/a>.<\/p>\n For most people, CBT alone is the right remedy for OCD while in some individuals, CBT plus medication is the solution.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Unlike other traditional psychotherapy (discovered to have little impact on patients over the past 15 years) in which the patient\u2019s problems and past are discussed, CBT involves the active participation of the patient and therapist in revealing the fundamental beliefs in the present moment. In other words, CBT is more interested in this present rather than the past.<\/p>\n CBT aims to help you change how you think, feel and behave because they lead to distress and increased anxiety.<\/p>\n It starts by fist listing out all your difficulties and symptoms in full details. The list is then used as a basic tool in form of CBT treatment known as Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) which is also called exposure therapy.<\/p>\n Starting from the least symptom, CBT aims to change the meaning you give to your intrusive thoughts, try new ways of thinking about them, which will in-turn help you change your reaction towards them.<\/p>\n The exposure therapy is often carried out for one hour or more in which you are exposed and asked to stay and face your symptom until your anxiety reduces. Although challenging, it is done in a gradual and supportive manner.<\/p>\n Once you are able to fully handle the least phase in a confident and overcoming way, you\u2019ll then be ready to move to the next phase. It continues gradually until you have tackled all the items and symptoms on your list.<\/p>\n Full treatment may require 10 to 20 or even more sessions. So consult your therapist to know more about CBT.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Friends, families, colleagues, psychologists and professional therapist\u2019s social support can play a vital role in helping a patient to overcome obsessive-compulsive disorder and prevent re-occurrence.<\/p>\n Social support means having family, friends and other people to turn to in times of crisis or need. Aside from the role it plays to deal with OCD, it is important for maintaining good physical and mental health.<\/p>\n It is known to reduce psychological and physiological implications of stress.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n As an individual with OCD, you may often feel unhappy, depressed, anxious, isolated or embarrassed about your condition. Getting support and being around other people might just be very helpful in relieving your condition gradually.<\/p>\n If you don\u2019t tell most people the challenges you are facing, there is no way they can help you with it.\u00a0 You do not have to wait for people to make the first move before come into your life. So, find individuals you can reach out to, connect and interact with good people both offline and online, hang out with your families and friends and build long and beneficial relationships.<\/p>\n Social support will make you feel more secured, give you a sense of belonging, enhance your sense of self-worth and improve your condition.<\/p>\n One of the wonderful ways to keep your OCD under control is regular exercising.<\/p>\n Why? This is because exercise is good for your mental health, physical health, it helps you get your mind to focus on other things, boosts your confidence, enhances your self-esteem, handle stress and reduce the symptoms of general anxiety disorder. Exercise also helps you reduce fatigue and improve alertness.<\/p>\n There are many evidences and proves that shows that exercise is very helpful and it is an important remedy for reducing the symptoms of OCD.<\/p>\n There are great benefits of exercise for you and other people with this condition and other forms of stress or anxiety.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Yoga, tai chi<\/strong>, walking, swimming, jogging or aerobic workouts 3 to 5 times a week for at least 20 minutes regularly can perform wonders when it comes to getting rid of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).<\/p>\n Meditation is another integral way of naturally treating OCD because it significantly improves OCD symptoms within a short period of time. It doesn\u2019t have any side effect and it is an effective method.<\/p>\n Meditation enable you get hold of your mind, control anxiety, control your thoughts, and eventually reduces the rate at which obsession, impulses and compulsion controls your mind.<\/p>\n\n
\n
Medical\/Clinical Treatment of OCD<\/h2>\n
6 OCD Natural Treatments That May Work<\/h1>\n
1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"ocd](\"https:\/\/www.thrivenaija.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/patient-lying-on-therapy-sofa.jpg\")
2. Social Support<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"Therapy](\"https:\/\/www.thrivenaija.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/therapy-in-support-group.jpg\")
3. Exercise<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"exercising\"](\"https:\/\/www.thrivenaija.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/african-american-woman-jogger-stretching-fitness-people-and.jpg\")
4. Meditation<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"how](\"https:\/\/www.thrivenaija.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/ocd-meditation.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
![\"stock](\"https:\/\/www.thrivenaija.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/vegetable-soup.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"coffee](\"https:\/\/www.thrivenaija.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/coffee-beans-cafiene.jpg\")