OCD

If you’re consumed by persistent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) or repetitive behaviors (compulsions) and desire symptom relief, see the experts at Recovery Pathways, LLC. With six convenient locations in Bay City, Corunna, Gladwin, Ortonville, Midland, and Mount Pleasant, Michigan, this skilled mental health team offers obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) treatments that can optimize your quality of life. Schedule an evaluation by calling the office or booking one online today. 

What is OCD?

OCD, or obsessive-compulsive disorder, is a condition characterized by obsessive thoughts and/or compulsive behaviors. It can lead to obsessions and compulsions that interfere with your daily activities. OCD affects about two in 100 people in the United States. If OCD negatively affects your job, grades at school, or relationships, seek treatment to achieve symptom relief. 

Which symptoms can OCD cause?

OCD can lead to:

• Intrusive or unwanted thoughts
• Repetitive behavior patterns
• Mental rituals
• Fear of bodily fluids, dirt, or germs
• Doubting your partner’s love and affection
• Fear of harming other people or yourself
• Strong need for symmetry, neatness, or orderliness
• Fear of making mistakes
• Constant worry about what’s right and wrong
• Focusing on your breathing or heart rate
• Fear that something bad will happen
• Arranging items in a specific order
• Doing things over and over
• Compulsively cleaning your home
• Constantly washing your hands
• Not touching doorknobs or shaking hands

These and similar symptoms might feel impossible to control, despite your wanting to stop them. Left untreated, they may worsen with stress or make you anxious and/or depressed.

What may increase the risk of OCD?

The cause of OCD isn’t known, but its risk factors could include:

• Strep throat infection or scarlet fever
• Brain changes
• Stress
• Trauma
• Certain personality traits
• Family history of OCD
• Learned behaviors from family or friends
• Anxiety, depression, or tic disorders
• Abuse or neglect during childhood

Mild OCD symptoms might not significantly interfere with your daily routine, but severe cases could feel distressing.

How is OCD diagnosed?

Diagnosing OCD at Recovery Pathways, LLC consists of a psychiatric evaluation using DSM-5 criteria. Your mental health specialist discusses your thoughts, behaviors, emotions, lifestyle habits, and any past trauma. They also screen for co-existing mental health conditions. 

Recovery Pathways, LLC offers GeneSight® testing to learn which medications may be helpful for your condition based on your genetic makeup.

How is OCD treated?

Examples of OCD treatments available at Recovery Pathways, LLC include:

• Individual, group, and family and couples counseling
• Exposure and response prevention (ERP)
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
• Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)
• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
• Medication management

Your therapist teaches coping skills that can help you overcome bothersome OCD symptoms. If you struggle with substance use disorder, Recovery Pathways, LLC provides medication-assisted treatment (MAT) that may include trying VIVITROL® or SUBOXONE®. Your specialist follows up to ensure effective and lasting mental health outcomes.

Schedule an OCD evaluation at Recovery Pathways, LLC by calling the office or using the online booking feature today.