Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

As many as 3 million Americans have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) today. At Oasis Healing Arts, experienced advanced practice psychiatric nurse Linda Hilliker, MS, CNS, RXN, understands how challenging life with OCD can be, and her empathetic approach can help you identify triggers and control your thoughts and behaviors. Linda offers medication management through telehealth and in the Broomfield, Colorado, office, so click on the online scheduler or call the office to make your appointment today.

What is obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)?

Obsessive compulsive disorder is a mental health disorder characterized by two disruptive symptoms –obsessions and compulsions. 

Obsessions

Obsessions are thoughts which may feel disturbing and may not make any sense to you. Because they’re unwanted thoughts, obsessions often cause significant distress and are very distracting from other important things in your life. 

Compulsions

Compulsions are repetitive behaviors that are hard to resist doing. People with OCD typically complete compulsive behaviors in an effort to avoid the connected stress and anxiety of not doing them. These activities may take up a lot of time in your life, interfering with other plans for the day.. 

OCD symptoms may start gradually and worsen at certain times. When you’re under a lot of stress or feeling out of control, it may trigger a worsening of OCD symptoms. 

What are the symptoms of obsessions in obsessive-compulsive disorder?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder obsessions can include: 

• Fear of germs
• Taboo thoughts involving aggression, sex, or religion
•  Feeling irritated or distressed if items or objects aren’t perfectly orderly or symmetrical
• Inability to cope with uncertainty 

Obsessions can be relentless, making you doubt yourself, and taking a toll on your self esteem. 

What are examples of compulsions in obsessive-compulsive disorder?

Compulsion symptoms often include: 

• Excessive cleaning
• Excessive hand washing
• Rearranging objects in a very precise way
• Checking repeatedly to make sure you locked the door or took other precautions
•  Needing to repeat activities a certain number of times
• Needing constant reassurance
• Counting objects, words, or something else
• Repeating a word or phrase to yourself

 The experience of compulsions varies between people. In general, people with OCD have obsessions and compulsions that take up a lot of time and prevent them from fully living or enjoying their life. 

How is obsessive-compulsive disorder treated?

At Oasis Healing Arts, Linda specializes in relieving symptoms through medication management. With more than 30 years of experience, she’s an expert in finding the drug that works best for your needs. 

Obsessive-compulsive disorder may respond to serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Prozac®, Zoloft®, Luvox. While perhaps best known as antidepressant medications, in higher doses these medications can be very effective for OCD. 

Working with a therapist who specializes in treatment of OCD in addition to medication management is the most effective way to resolve disruptive symptoms. 

Linda can tailor medication choice for your needs and monitor the physical and emotional effects, making adjustments as needed. 

Oasis Healing Arts offers both in-office mental health care and telehealth appointments, making it easy to effectively manage your OCD. Call the office or book your appointment online now.