OCD

If you have obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), you may be experiencing substantial disruptions in your daily life. OCD is an anxiety disorder that may manifest in different ways and severity throughout the course of the disorder. OCD involves a cycle of intrusive thoughts that result in extreme stress. To cope with these thoughts, compulsive behavior or rituals are performed in an attempt to bring down anxiety. The goal of treatment is to reduce the frequency, intensity, and duration of your obsessions.

Medications that impact serotonin levels (SSRI’s) are used to treat OCD. Fluvoxamine is specifically indicated for the treatment of OCD and is very effective. The other two SSRI medications found to be effective in treating OCD are sertraline and fluoxetine. In addition to medication, a plan to reduce OCD symptoms emphasizes obsession awareness, addressing lower-level obsessions and compulsions first, observation of thoughts, and accepting uncertainty.