1. Understand the Process of Cognitive Therapy
Most forms of OCD therapy start with a basis of cognitive treatments. It usually means that you and your therapist work together to evaluate your obsessive thoughts, their possible causes and the means by which they can be challenged and diminished. The therapist will help you become more aware of the exact nature of the thoughts and then replace their negative patterns with healthier and more positive ways of thinking.
2. Look Into Forms of Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive therapy is often used in conjunction with behavioral therapy, which attempts to affect your OCD symptoms directly. Exposure treatment and response-prevention therapy are often staples of this process. You will be exposed to the subject of your obsessive thoughts in a controlled environment, such as your therapist's office, and then you'll be prevented from acting out the triggered ritualistic compulsions. If properly applied over time, the therapy will enable you to control your obsessive-compulsive behavior.
3. Ask About Medication Options
Some forms of antidepressants are useful in alleviating the symptoms of OCD. Chief among these are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a family of medications that includes Prozac (fluoxetine hydrochloride), Zoloft (sertraline hydrochloride) and Paxil (paroxetine hydrochloride). They help regulate your serotonin levels. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter in the brain that plays an important, but still not entirely understood, function in thought processes. Other medication options include tricyclic antidepressants like Anafranil (clomipramine), which serve much the same function. Most take 2 to 3 months to start working since your brain must absorb them through the bloodstream in sufficient amounts before they work.
4. Seek Group Therapy
OCD affects more than just you. Your family and loved ones may be troubled by it as well. They may be confused by your obsessive behavior and not able to understand the condition. It can test the patience of everyone involved. Group-therapy sessions can not only help educate those around you about OCD, but they can also help reduce the stress and anxiety you experience. If the people around you can learn to stay calm and be patient when you go into an OCD episode, it can make a big difference in your efforts to treat the condition.
