If OCD is suspected, or perhaps another mental health disorder, the doctor can refer you to a mental health professional specializing in diagnosing and treating OCD. He or she can rule out any medical condition that might be causing some of your symptoms. You can start by seeing a primary care physician.
Once you’ve decided to take action, you’ll want to know the specifics of how to get diagnosed with OCD.
The only way to know is to find out by seeking professional help. Or, you may have what could be classified as OCD- or something else. So, while it is certainly possible the symptoms you’re experiencing could be caused by something else, why prolong finding out the true nature of your condition (if any)? It could be you’re temporarily bothered by stress and are behaving in a more deliberate and orderly way, being more conscientious about doing things right and making a concerted effort to avoid mistakes. The lifetime prevalence of the disorder is about 2.3 percent in adults, and OCD affects women more than men. Data from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), based on the National Comorbidity Service Replication, show that about 1.2 percent of adults in America had OCD within the past year. had a simultaneous mental health disorder and substance use disorder in 2018. After all, suppose you do have a combination of OCD and another type of anxiety disorder, or a medical condition whose symptoms mimic those of OCD? Alcohol and drug use can also co-occur with many mental health disorders, including OCD, causing a myriad of symptoms that overlap and are hard to separate and determine which condition is causing them.Īccording to the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 9.2 million adults in the U.S. It’s possible, of course, but trying to guess and self-diagnose is not the best plan. Maybe you’re wondering if the symptoms you’re experiencing could be caused by something else. Could the Symptoms be Caused by Something Else? Nor should you have to, when treatment is available that’s effective and can make a tremendous difference in your everyday life. Feeling like they must tread lightly in your presence for fear of creating an unpleasant outburst where you act in an uncharacteristic and exaggerated manner and lash out at them is no way for any of you to exist. They’re the ones who are probably mystified as to what’s going on with you and are trying to do all they can not to aggravate or upset you. It’s also important to think about what your OCD is doing to others you’re close to, particularly your family. OCD generally tends to worsen over time without treatment. In fact, ignoring symptoms, telling yourself that you’re not really that bad and you can manage the disorder by trying self-help for OCD will only exacerbate the situation. Ignoring symptoms will not cause them to disappear, and they’re not going to just go away. If you suspect you have OCD and are doing your best to hide it from family, friends and co-workers, you’re not doing yourself justice. That’s not automatically OCD, however- unless it starts to interfere with your daily functioning, causing you to ignore or be unable to tend to your regular responsibilities, such as going to work or school or taking care of the family. You may feel compelled to keep a very orderly home and pride yourself on your tidiness.
The same thing holds true for any nighttime rituals we might do before going to bed. We like to perform our bathing and grooming in sequence, making sure we do what we want and need to get ready for the day. Difference Between OCD and Tidiness/Controlling BehaviorsĬertain daily rituals are comforting and part of a normal routine for most people. When to seek help for OCD is when your life is spiraling out of control to the point where your controlling behaviors cause problems that you know are interfering with how you want to live. When do you decide to get help? If you’re asking yourself, “Do I need therapy for OCD?,” it might be time to think about how to seek help for OCD. While we may experience some of the symptoms of OCD to a degree, that doesn’t mean we have OCD. Could the Symptoms be Caused by Something Else?Įach of us occasionally has obsessive or compulsive thoughts.Difference Between OCD and Tidiness/Controlling Behaviors.Will Insurance Cover Behavioral Treatment?.Beacon Health / Value Options Insurance.Rehab Success Rate – Does It Really Work?.