Living with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) complicates a person’s life, but is OCD curable? This challenging mental health disorder differs in the range of symptoms and severity that each person experiences. However, one thing they all have in common is that OCD is not curable.
Renewal Oasis created a program that helps people with OCD find ways to manage many of their symptoms. Just because this disorder is chronic does not mean the person who has it cannot learn to manage how it impacts their lives. Our residential and outpatient programs provide the multi-disciplinary care necessary to improve a person’s mental health. Let us help you or someone you love find the answers you’ve been looking for.
Understanding OCD
Part of answering the question, “Is OCD curable?” involves understanding how the disorder presents in people and the challenges it causes. OCD is a mental health disorder recognized by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
Two types of symptoms occur when a person has OCD. The first kind is obsessive thoughts that happen to a person repetitively without them being able to stop or minimize them. The thoughts can feel intimidating, intrusive, and embarrassing. No matter how much the individual tries to ignore the thoughts, they continue to occur.
The second type of OCD symptom is compulsive behaviors. The person may feel an urge to repetitively perform a task, such as turning a light switch on and off, or feel compelled to clean themselves or objects for an excessive amount of time. Even when the individual knows that performing the same tasks over and over is not necessary, they feel extreme anxiety if they don’t do them anyway.
OCD often starts at an early age and will continue into adulthood if left untreated. The illness will directly impact the person’s relationships, ability to complete chores, and their work and school lives. Having OCD can be frightening and make a person feel like they are beyond help, but quality treatment is available to those who need it.
Is OCD Curable?
The short answer to “Is OCD curable?” is no, it is not. While some people can become cured of mental illnesses like anxiety disorders or depression, OCD is a chronic disease with no cure. However, much progress can be made in managing the symptoms when a person attends a qualified program that provides treatment for OCD. For some, a short-term treatment plan works best. It teaches individuals how to minimize their symptoms when possible without the disorder overshadowing their lives. For others, a long-term treatment plan works better. This is particularly effective for those who have a history of severe ongoing symptoms for a long time.
How is OCD Typically Treated?
During residential obsessive-compulsive disorder treatment or outpatient, the treatment plan includes two proven approaches. The first is attending therapy sessions that address the disorder and teach people how to ease their symptoms and gain more control. When a person enters a program, an assessment will take place that shows which types of therapy will best meet their needs. They typically include individual and group therapies.
Common types of therapy used to treat OCD include:
- Exposure Response Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
- Trauma Therapy
The second approach to treating OCD involves the use of prescription medications. The prescribing clinician will discuss the person’s history of OCD and what their symptoms are and make a recommendation for which type of drug offers them the most benefits. Common prescription medications used to treat OCD include:
- Fluoxetine
- Paroxetine
- Sertraline
- Fluvoxamine
- Citalopram
- Escitalopram
The prescriber will monitor the person to see how well the drug is working and if any changes in dosage or type of medication are necessary.
The Benefits of Going to Treatment for OCD
Because OCD is not curable, it’s vital that anyone who has it attends a treatment program to help manage the disorder. The right program will recognize that each person experiences OCD in their own way and will design a plan to help them minimize their obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors as much as possible.
Attending a residential program for OCD allows the person to move into a comfortable, homelike facility while they receive their treatment. Getting away from life’s daily stressors and chores helps people concentrate on working on themselves without distractions from the outside world. Our outpatient programs provide the benefit of living at home and traveling to our facility for appointments.
Without treatment for OCD, a person’s symptoms will worsen and their lives will become more unbearable. The right program helps the individual understand the nature of their illness and the control over it they can develop. Along with medication, this overall plan improves a person’s mental health and makes life more enjoyable and manageable.
Contact Renewal Oasis About Treating OCD Today
Have you wondered, “Is OCD curable?” and what treatment for it looks like? Whether you are new to finding a program to treat your OCD or have not gotten the results you wanted from previous attempts, we can help. Renewal Oasis created an effective program to treat OCD that is available on an outpatient or residential basis. Both levels of care provide essential types of therapy that address the symptoms of OCD and help people learn to manage them. We also provide access to prescription medications that help people feel more in control and able to participate fully in their therapy.
Contact us today to find out more about getting help for OCD. No one should have to suffer with poor mental health. Let us show you the path to healing.
Published: 12/16/2024
