OCD Treatment in New York City

OCD

Is the front door locked? Did I wash my hands when I got back into the house? Those are common thoughts we all have multiple times a day. Our brain always works following a logical pattern of tasks we need to complete, like a perfectly designed algorithm. But sometimes, these thoughts can become excessive, draining one’s quality of life as it creates a loop of habits and thoughts. Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a long-lasting psychiatric illness characterized by uncontrollable recurring behaviors (compulsions), and/or thoughts (obsessions) that a person feels the urge to repeat over and over.

Everyone double-checks important things every day, but those with OCD will often:

• Lose control over thoughts and/or behaviors, even when those are clearly excessive

• Spend an excessive amount of time on loops of behaviors and/or thoughts

• Report absence of pleasure when performing such actions, but report thoughts of relief after repeating the behavior

• Significant problems in daily life activities as a direct consequence of the repetitive thoughts and actions

OCD can be accompanied by tic disorders, characterized by brief, repetitive motor movements like eye blinking, head, and shoulder movements, etc. Tics could also manifest as vocalizations like obsessive throat-cleaning, grunting, etc. Sometimes, symptoms can be transitory. Patients often report not feeling the urge of repeating specific actions, and most of them tend to create a map of triggering factors to avoid, or abuse substances as a way of calming themselves.

Curated Mental Health staff provides psychotherapy and obsessive-compulsive disorder treatment to help patients focus on adaptive and healthier behavior patterns and strategies. Our main goal is to provide effective treatment and redirect obsessive habits and coping behaviors. Therapy associated with  OCD medication is one of our treatment strategies to help manage the obsessive compulsive thoughts, anxiety, and behaviors often associated with OCD.