OCD

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) affects up to 3% of people worldwide. If you struggle with debilitating obsessions or compulsions and need relief, turn to Forcey Behavioral Health Services in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. Board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner Sherifat Forcey, PMHNP-BC, offers OCD treatments that help you live your best, symptom-free life. Schedule an in-person or telehealth evaluation at Forcey Behavioral Health Services by calling the office or requesting an appointment online today.

What is OCD?

OCD is a condition in which you have obsessive thoughts along with compulsions or repetitive behavior patterns that negatively affect day-to-day activities. While mild OCD symptoms generally aren’t problematic, more severe cases can affect your job, school, quality of life, and interpersonal relationships. Seek help at the first sign of bothersome or crippling symptoms. 

Which symptoms can OCD cause?

OCD can lead to one or more of the following:

• Difficulty dealing with uncertainty 
• Needing order and balance
• Fear of germs or dirt
• Unwanted thoughts 
• Doubts about turning off the stove
• Intense stress because of any disorder
• Avoiding shaking hands
• Repetitive, ritualistic behaviors
• Constant hand washing, checking, or counting
• Having a strict routine
• Checking for locked doors over and over
• Arranging all canned goods to face the same way

The severity of OCD varies from mild to severe and is sometimes debilitating. 

What increases the risk of OCD?

The following factors may increase the risk of developing OCD:

• Family history of OCD
• Changes in brain chemistry
• Learned OCD behaviors
• Anxiety, depression, or other mental health disorders
• Stressful life events
• Past trauma

However, the exact cause of OCD isn’t fully understood.

How is OCD diagnosed?

Diagnosing OCD at Forcey Behavioral Health Services involves a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation with Sherifat. She reviews your personal and family histories of mental health disorders, lifestyle, and medications. She also discusses your moods, emotions, thoughts, and behaviors to create a customized treatment plan that helps you thrive.

How is OCD treated?

Treating OCD typically consists of psychotherapy, medication management, lifestyle changes, or a combination of treatments that ease symptoms and improve your quality of life. 

Sherifat offers exposure and response prevention (ERP), cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and other forms of therapy that gradually increase exposure to feared objects or obsessions and help you alter behavior patterns to flourish and enjoy stronger, healthier relationships. 

It’s also helpful to adopt stress-reducing strategies, eat nutritious foods, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, and avoid drug and alcohol misuse. Have a strong social support system in place and attend therapy sessions weekly or as needed.

Schedule an OCD evaluation at Forcey Behavioral Health Services by calling the office or using the online booking feature today.