OCD Treatment

OCD Treatment in Colorado Springs

Obsessive compulsive disorder causes intense thoughts and actions that take over your life. Dr. Ashley Johnson, and the team at Colorado Recovery Solutions provides treatment and therapy when you are suffering from undesirable OCD symptoms. Located in the Colorado Springs area, Colorado Recovery Solutions is the only woman physician, veteran-owned psychiatry clinic in the area, offering advanced medical treatments for mental health disorders like OCD. Call the office today or schedule a consultation online.

What is obsessive compulsive disorder?

Obsessive compulsive disorder is a type of mental health condition characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts called obsessions. These obsessions come with the urge to complete actions or rituals, known as compulsions.

Although you know that the obsessions and compulsions are not t rational, you cannot stop doing them. These thoughts interfere with your life, taking up most of your time.

Obsessive compulsive disorder is usually caused by genetics and your environment. Your brain chemistry also comes into play with this disorder. Childhood trauma can also cause OCD to come out later in life.

What are the symptoms of OCD

When you have OCD, the obsessions and compulsions you experience take up more than an hour of your day. This makes it difficult to get anything done without stopping to perform the action caused by the irrational thought. 

Symptoms of OCD are split into obsession symptoms and compulsion symptoms. Common obsession symptoms include:

• • • Needing things to be symmetrical
    • Fear of dirt or being contaminated
    • Feelings of doubt or uncertainty
    • Unwanted sexual or aggressive thoughts

The compulsions often follow your obsessions. They are directly related, and common compulsions that you may experience include:

• • • Frequently cleaning
    • Washing your hands a lot
    • Counting
    • Checking things like the stove
    • Being stuck in a routine

Although you know the thoughts and actions are completely unnecessary and irrational, you are unable to control them on your own. OCD often requires expert treatment to investigate why you are suffering from these symptoms.

How is OCD managed?

The team at Colorado Recovery Solutions provides both compassionate and advanced care when it comes to mental health disorders like OCD. 

Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the key treatments for OCD. This type of psychotherapy uses exposure and response therapy to help you overcome your anxiety. The goal is to allow you to cope with the anxiety produced by your thoughts and prevent compulsion.

Medications are also used in the treatment of OCD. These medications usually involve SSRIs, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. These are also used to treat depression and are often successful in treating OCD, especially when paired with cognitive behavioral therapy.

More recently, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) has been used to help treat OCD symptoms. This therapy was approved by the FDA in 2018 as a complementary treatment for difficult cases of OCD.

 To get the help you need for OCD, call our office in Colorado Springs today at 719-622-6522.