Treatment for OCD and Intrusive Thoughts
Living with obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors can be exhausting, but you don’t have to manage it alone. Drift Behavioral Health offers personalized treatment for OCD that’s tailored to your needs, helping you feel steadier and in control.
Understanding OCD
Obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, is a mental health condition that causes unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions). Many people think OCD is just about being neat or organized, but it’s actually much more complex. It affects how a person feels, thinks, and functions in daily life. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, about 1.2% of US adults experience obsessive-compulsive disorder each year.
What Causes OCD?
There isn’t one single cause, but several factors can contribute to obsessive-compulsive disorder. These include:
- Genetics or family history
- Differences in brain structure or function
- Stressful or traumatic life events
- Personality traits such as perfectionism
- Chemical imbalances in the brain
Common Symptoms of OCD
Obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms include both mental and physical effects. They can interfere with work, relationships, and everyday tasks.
- Intrusive thoughts or images
- Repetitive actions like checking or counting
- Fear of contamination or germs
- Avoiding situations that may trigger obsessions
- Physical symptoms of anxiety, such as a racing heart, nausea, or sweating
- Constant need for reassurance
- Feeling trapped in cycles of worry or rituals
- Spending large amounts of time on routines or habits
What Is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?
OCD causes a cycle of obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors that feel impossible to control. These thoughts are often unwanted and upsetting, and the behaviors are attempts to reduce anxiety or prevent imagined danger. About half of adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder say their symptoms seriously affect their daily lives.
Co-Occurring Conditions
This disorder often appears with other mental health conditions. It may overlap with anxiety, depression, ADHD, or PTSD. This is referred to as having a dual diagnosis. Treating just one condition often isn’t enough, which is why Drift’s team takes a full-picture approach to care.
Types of OCD
Obsessive-compulsive disorder can look different for everyone. Several broad categories help describe how it shows up, but obsessive-compulsive behaviors can appear in many different ways.
The need to check locks, appliances, or tasks over and over, often due to fear of harm or making a mistake.
An intense fear of germs, illness, or dirt, leading to excessive cleaning or avoidance.
The urge to place items in specific ways or arrange things until they feel “just right.”
Ongoing doubt or anxiety about a partner or the relationship itself, often with frequent reassurance-seeking.
Upsetting or disturbing thoughts that go against your values. These are often violent, sexual, or religious in nature, and feel uncontrollable.
The urge to collect items or avoid throwing things away, even if they have no clear use or value.
Treating and Managing Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
OCD is treatable, and a structured plan that combines therapy, medication, and lifestyle tools works best. At Drift, we tailor care to your symptoms and help you build practical strategies to break the cycle. We offer in-person and online treatment to meet you where you are.
A proper diagnosis starts with an assessment that reviews your symptoms, thoughts, behaviors, and history. Providers may use an obsessive-compulsive disorder diagnosis test or questionnaire. This helps ensure an accurate understanding of your condition.
Therapy focuses on helping you manage obsessions without acting on compulsions. Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), a specialized form of cognitive-behavioral therapy, is the gold standard. Other therapies include mindfulness-based techniques and trauma-informed care. Drift offers different levels of care, so whether you’re new to therapy or need more ongoing support, we’ll match you with the right plan.
Medications can reduce obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms and make therapy more effective. Common options include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like fluoxetine, sertraline, and fluvoxamine. At Drift, your provider will guide you through medication options and ongoing support.
We also offer supportive tools that improve mental health and reduce stress. These include meditation, grounding techniques, routine-building strategies, coping skills, and creative therapies like art or music.
Get Expert OCD Treatment at Drift Behavioral Health
At Drift Behavioral Health, we offer tailored care that meets you where you are. Whether you’re managing compulsions, intrusive thoughts, or anxiety, we’re here to help. Our treatment options include:
- Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP): Full-day support and therapy 5–6 days a week
- Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP): Flexible therapy and group sessions 3–5 days a week
- Virtual Mental Health Treatment: Online treatment from home with therapy and medication management
If you’re ready to feel more in control, we’re here to help. Reach out to Drift today and take the first step toward feeling lighter, clearer, and supported.
FAQs
Is OCD hereditary?
It can be. Having a family member with obsessive-compulsive disorder may increase your chances of developing it.
Does OCD treatment help against intrusive thoughts?
Yes. ERP therapy and medication can both reduce the impact of intrusive thoughts.
How to tell if you have OCD?
If you have frequent, unwanted thoughts and feel driven to do certain behaviors repeatedly, a mental health assessment can help clarify.
What’s the best therapy for OCD?
ERP is considered the most effective therapy, often combined with CBT or other approaches.
Can OCD cause psychosis?
OCD itself does not cause psychosis, but in rare cases, symptoms can become extreme. Dual diagnosis care may be helpful.
Is skin picking a sign of OCD?
Yes. Skin picking, or excoriation disorder, is related to obsessive-compulsive disorder and may occur alongside it.
What causes OCD to get worse?
Stress, trauma, or changes in routine can worsen symptoms. Treatment helps build tools to manage this over time.
