Do you suffer from anxiety? You may have asked yourself this question time and time again, wondering why you feel so lifeless or anxious. You might have wondered why you suddenly have trouble concentrating or are bored with something you used to love.
Or perhaps you suffer from OCD. Do you find yourself constantly dealing with persistent, distressing thoughts and fears, forcing you into repetitive rituals?The human mind is a complex and mysterious thing. When it’s not healthy, people can find themselves prisoners, tied down by invisible chains. These chains can significantly impact your quality of life.
However, amidst these challenges, there lies a beacon of hope: an OCD and anxiety treatment center.
In this article, we’ll cover anxiety and OCD, and how a treatment center can help with these conditions.
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety in the clinical sense refers to a constant feeling of unease which seems independent of one’s circumstances. This unease can take the form of nervousness, fear, apprehension, and worrying.
These disorders affect how we feel and behave and can cause physical symptoms. Mild anxiety might be vague and unsettling, while severe anxiety can seriously affect day-to-day living.
Symptoms of anxiety include:
- Feelings of panic, fear, and uneasiness
- Problems sleeping
- Cold or sweaty hands or feet
- Shortness of breath
- Heart palpitations
- Inability to be still and calm
- Dry mouth
- Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
- Nausea
- Muscle tension
- Dizziness
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders states you need to have had these symptoms at least six months to be diagnosed.
Clinical anxiety takes the form of several different disorders, including social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia, and various other specific phobias (ex: arachnophobia).
Anxiety is the most common mental health issue in the United States. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 40 million adults, or 19% of the population, suffer from some form of clinical anxiety.
If you or a loved one suffer from anxiety, your best course of option is an OCD and anxiety treatment center.
What is OCD?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder, or, OCD, is an anxiety disorder characterized by recurring, unpleasant thoughts (obsessions) and/or repetitive activities. These obsessions and compulsions interfere with daily activities and cause significant distress.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition known for its patterns of unwanted, intrusive thoughts, feelings, or sensations (obsessions) that drive individuals to perform repetitive and ritualistic behaviors (compulsions). These obsessions and compulsions interfere with daily activities and cause significant distress
Symptoms:
OCD symptoms generally fall into two categories: obsessions and compulsions.
Obsessions are repeated, persistent, and unwanted thoughts, urges, or images that are intrusive and cause distress or anxiety.
These can include:
- Fear of germs or contamination.
- Unwanted forbidden or taboo thoughts involving sex, religion, or harm.
- Aggressive thoughts towards others or oneself.
- Need for symmetry or exact order.
- Compulsions are repetitive behaviors that a person with OCD feels the urge to do in response to an obsessive thought or fear.
These can include:
- Excessive cleaning and/or handwashing.
- Ordering and arranging things in a particular, precise way.
- Repeatedly checking on things, such as repeatedly checking to see if the door is locked.
- Compulsive counting.
- These symptoms can interfere with all aspects of life, such as work, school, and personal relationships.
OCD affects approximately one in forty adults in the United States. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, it has a lifetime prevalence of 2.3%. While the term is often misused in everyday language, true OCD is a specific disorder that can create long-term issues if not addressed. Thankfully, professional treatment can be had at an OCD and anxiety treatment center.
Get confidential help from our addiction treatment specialists in Orange County. Call to join our rehab program today!
Call 866-881-1184How are OCD and Anxiety Related?
OCD used to be classified as a type of anxiety disorder in the DSM-IV. However, in the DSM-V (the most recent), it’s considered a separate disorder.
However, that does not mean the two are completely unrelated. Both illnesses share certain features, leading to a great deal of overlap and commonality in experiences. And it’s also not uncommon for someone with OCD to also have an anxiety disorder.
According to research, the comorbidity rate between OCD and clinical anxiety is 22%. Because of their greater severity and rarity, OCD individuals are more likely to have a lifetime incidence of other anxiety disorders than vice versa.
The difference is with anxiety disorders, the anxiety typically pertains to a range of different life circumstances. On the other hand, the nature of OCD — with its intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors — can be a profound source of anxiety itself.
An OCD and anxiety treatment center is the best way to deal with co-occurring OCD and anxiety.
Best Medication for OCD and Anxiety
Diagnostically, OCD and anxiety disorders have separate criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). They are treated as distinct clinical entities, though there may be some overlap in treatment approaches, such as the use of SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) or cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques.
Antidepressants approved by the FDA to treat OCD include:
- Clomipramine (Anafranil) for adults and children 10 years and older
- Fluoxetine (Prozac) for adults and children 7 years and older
- Fluvoxamine for adults and children 8 years and older
- Paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva) for adults only
- Sertraline (Zoloft) for adults and children 6 years and older
Sertraline and fluoxetine are also widely prescribed for clinical anxiety.
It’s crucial for anyone suffering from OCD or anxiety to consult a professional at an OCD and anxiety treatment center. They can provide a proper diagnosis and work with the individual to develop a comprehensive treatment plan that considers all aspects of the individual’s health and situation.
Five Ways an OCD and Anxiety Treatment Center Can Help
Here are five ways an OCD and anxiety treatment center can help you:
1. Expert Diagnosis and Personalized Treatment Plans
These centers specialize in mental health issues and have professionals who can accurately diagnose the specific type of anxiety or OCD you are experiencing. Misdiagnosis can lead to ineffective treatments, which is why a specialized approach is crucial.
Once a proper diagnosis is established, these specialists can create a personalized treatment plan that caters to your individual needs. This is incredibly important as OCD and anxiety disorders manifest differently in each person.
2. Access to Multidisciplinary Resources
Treatment centers often have a team of interdisciplinary professionals, including psychologists, psychiatrists, counselors, and even social workers, all working in unison. The varied perspectives can be particularly beneficial in treating OCD and anxiety.
3. Structured Support and Safe Environment
An OCD and anxiety treatment center provides a structured environment in which clients learn and adapt to new coping strategies and routines. These controlled, safe settings allow individuals to focus entirely on their recovery, free from the distractions or triggers. This can help those who suffer from panic disorder and panic attacks.
Additionally, the structured support provides constant guidance and reduces the feeling of isolation that many individuals with OCD and anxiety experience.
4. Exposure to Evidence-Based Therapies
These centers are grounded in therapies with proven efficacy, such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT is a frontline treatment for OCD and anxiety. It involves changing patterns of thought and behavior that trigger anxiety. Access to CBT under professional guidance can drastically improve outcomes by teaching practical skills for managing symptoms.
5. Aftercare and Long-Term Management Strategies
Managing OCD and anxiety is often an ongoing process. Treatment centers can help individuals develop sustainable strategies for coping with their symptoms in the long term. This might include ongoing therapy sessions, support groups, and continuous learning about symptom management strategies. These centers can help those with OCD and anxiety prepare to reenter society.
Looking for quality substance abuse treatment that’s also affordable? South Coast accepts most major insurance providers. Get a free insurance benefits check now.
Check Your CoverageOCD and Anxiety Treatment at South Coast Behavioral Health
For those struggling with addiction, South Coast Behavioral Health offers compassionate and affordable addiction counseling at our anxiety and OCD treatment center.
The first step is going through a medical detox. Our medical detox program in California is staffed by caring and compassionate professionals who can provide you with medications to manage your withdrawal symptoms.
At South Coast, we take pride in offering care that is closely tailored to specific issues. To that end, we offer gender-specific detox programs, with medical detox for men in Irvine, CA, and medical detox for women in Huntington Beach, CA.
After detoxing, proper treatment can begin.
Treatment for substance abuse takes place along an entire spectrum of care. Along that entire spectrum are various behavioral therapies, support groups, and the use of medically-assisted treatment (MAT).
These levels of treatment are, in order, as follows:
Residential Treatment in California
After completing medical detox, you’ll receive inpatient treatment in Orange County California. There, you’ll receive medically-assisted treatment and dual diagnosis treatment to deal with any cravings or co-occurring mental health issues you may be battling. We also offer residential treatment facilities in Costa Mesa, Irvine, and Huntington Beach for those who desire gender-specific treatment. There, patients get round-the-clock medical attention and monitoring while living at the facility full-time.
In addition to individual and group counseling and medication management, you’ll also have access to leisure activities and family support services.
Partial Hospitalization in California
Most clients start substance abuse treatment with South Coast in our residential treatment program. After completing that, many desire something that still provides structure and support, but with extra space and time to oneself. For that, we offer Partial Hospitalization in Newport Beach.
A step down from inpatient care but with more structure than conventional outpatient programs, partial hospitalization offers a good balance for those looking to ease back into normal life. Clients can receive care five to seven days a week for several hours each day, returning to their homes in the evening.
This way, they can recover without putting their daily lives completely on hold, receiving intense therapeutic interventions like group and individual therapy, skill development, and medication management as necessary.
Intensive Outpatient Treatment in California
For those leaving inpatient residential treatment or partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient programs (IOP) are yet another gradual step forward on the road to recovery.
With a focus on group therapy, individual counseling, and education, clients undergoing Intensive Outpatient Treatment in Newport Beach can meet three to five days a week. Each session lasts three hours.
This level of care requires the least amount of attendance at a facility.
Start Today
If you or a loved one are struggling with substance addiction but wonder how long addiction counseling takes or have other questions, call us at 866-881-1184. Our highly qualified staff will be happy to help give you an idea of what to expect from your addiction recovery timeline, verify your insurance, and assist with any other questions you may have. Related disorders like anxiety and OCD can be difficult to live with. Mental health disorder treatment can help. If you need anxiety or OCD treatment, call our behavioral therapy center today. Our treatment approaches are safe and effective for all.
REFERENCES:
- https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions/Anxiety-Disorders
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd - https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/obsessivecompulsive-disorder-ocd
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8631971/
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354438
