Anxiety And OCD Specialist

What is OCD?

OCD, or obsessive-compulsive disorder, leads people to perform repetitive routines. These actions aren’t just habits; they’re driven by triggers, anxiety, and recurring thoughts. 

If you have OCD, you can’t control these thoughts, and they’re often unwanted. In many cases, OCD involves a fear of contamination, fixation on mental images, or association with sexual thoughts.

OCD patients can develop repetitive behavior, like repeatedly washing their hands or saying the same words or phrases over and over again.  

How do I know I have a problem with obsessive-compulsive disorder?

OCD symptoms often come on in childhood, the teen years, or early adulthood. Women are slightly more likely to develop the disorder than men.

If you have OCD, you might be well aware that your thoughts are not in line with reality. They may be irrational, unreasonable, and inconvenient. However, this realization can stress you out because you can’t control these thoughts. 

Some people with OCD may also believe that there is some truth to the reasoning behind their obsessive thought patterns. 

How is OCD diagnosed?

Shannon does a thorough psychological evaluation and medical review before diagnosing OCD. She’ll talk to you about your thoughts, symptoms, behavior patterns, and feelings. She’ll work to understand how your behaviors may be interfering with your work, relationships, and daily life. 

Shannon may ask permission to talk to your family and friends. She sometimes performs a physical exam to rule out other problems that could be causing or contributing to your symptoms. 

How is obsessive-compulsive disorder treated?

Shannon helps you with therapy and behavior change to help you manage OCD. She offers you gradual but regular exposure to an obsession and then helps you learn how to resist the urge to react compulsively with rituals. 

She may also offer certain medications to help you control OCD. She prescribes these judiciously and only uses medication in conjunction with other therapies. 

If you find OCD is interfering with your life, don’t hesitate to get help. Call Glacier Mental and Family Health Solutions to get support or use the online booking tool to schedule your appointment today.