Local Rehab Reports on Side Effects of OCD

Lexington, KY - SUN Behavioral Health Kentucky recently published a blog post educating the community about the side effects of obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD. This anxiety disorder comes with repeated thoughts, known as obsessions, and rituals that are known as compulsions. Obsessions and compulsions cannot be controlled or stopped and significantly interfere with the lives of people with this condition.

"Not all obsessive thoughts and rituals indicate that someone has OCD. There are ways to know if these symptoms could be associated with this condition. The main indication is if someone can't control their obsessions or compulsions even if they want to. Someone with this disorder will spend more than 1 hour daily on their symptoms, and they don't often receive pleasure from them even if it does temporarily lower their anxiety," the blog post states.

Areas of a person's life impacted by OCD include education, employment, and relationships. People with OCD find it challenging to complete assignments or concentrate on lessons, and their obsessions and compulsions might disrupt the classroom setting. Resisting compulsions often leads to overwhelming anxiety and intensifying urges that could result in them experiencing dropped grades or excessive doubt. Symptoms of fatigue, unwanted distress, or being distracted at work are everyday experiences for someone with this condition. Socially, someone might have strained relationships because those they care about do not understand what they are going through. People with this condition might find they cannot keep up with their day-to-day responsibilities, or they might try to complete compulsions in secret to avoid judgment from other people.

Physically, OCD can take a significant toll on the human body. The presence of obsessions can be mentally exhausting, but completing time-consuming compulsions keeps many people up at night. Some people may try to lay awake at night trying to fall asleep as their obsessions consume them for several hours. This will last until they decide to complete their compulsions or are exhausted enough to fall asleep. Other possible effects OCD can have on a person include having dreams of their obsessions, tension headaches, physical injuries due to obsessions creating distractions, or compulsions, such as constant sanitizing or skin picking.

Because OCD is an anxiety disorder, it can also come with common physical anxiety symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea, stomach cramps, and decreased appetite. OCD often coexists with other mental health conditions, like depression or other anxiety disorders. When these are left untreated, worsening symptoms develop, which can include suicidal thoughts or behaviors. If someone has these thoughts, they should attend a 24/7 crisis care facility immediately.

"OCD significantly reduces your quality of life. You might find getting up in the morning challenging or fear the extent of your symptoms. However, thousands of people find healing and management for OCD every day through treatment. While attending therapy, you will learn techniques and tools to make managing the side effects you are experiencing more accessible. Your team will work with you to figure out what will best help you find healing from this disorder. Recovery from OCD doesn't happen overnight, but with time and practice, you will take back control of your life from this condition," the blog continues.

SUN Behavioral Health Kentucky solves unmet needs in Lexington, KY. They can treat both adolescents and adults with OCD and other mental health conditions. Their outpatient location offers no-cost care assessments, allowing them to work with potential patients and their doctors to design the best treatment plan for their needs.

For more information, visit their website or call them at 859-429-5188. SUN Behavioral Health solves unmet needs.