OCD

Intensive Outpatient Program & Mental Health located in Cary, NC

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a distressing mental health disorder that consumes your time with repeated cycles of anxiety-producing thoughts and repetitive behaviors. If you have OCD symptoms, Natalie Chigozie, MSW, LCSW, and the skilled team at IOP Mental Health in Cary, North Carolina, offer a specialized intensive outpatient program. They combine medication management and group therapy to help you regain control of your life. Call the office to learn if you qualify for their program, or book an appointment online today.

OCD Q & A

What is OCD?

OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) is a challenging mental health disorder that causes unwanted thoughts (obsessions) followed by uncontrollable behaviors (compulsions). Your obsessive thoughts cause severe anxiety, triggering a deep need to ease the anxiety by performing a specific behavior.

Though your compulsive behavior temporarily reduces your anxiety, your obsessions eventually return, and the cycle continues. In severe cases, the ongoing cycle takes up so much time it interferes with your daily life.

What OCD symptoms might I have?

Though there are many possible obsessions, they usually revolve around a theme, such as:

Fear of being harmed
Fear of becoming violent
Fear of behaving inappropriately
Fear of losing important items
A need to maintain order and cleanliness

You could have silent or hidden compulsions. For example, you may count numbers or repeat the same phrase in your head.

However, compulsive behaviors typically go hand-in-hand with the theme of your obsessions. A fear of germs might trigger hand washing, and the need for order may force you to constantly rearrange items on a shelf or desk.

How is OCD treated?

Natalie and the IOP Mental Health team offer an intensive outpatient program, which usually involves six to eight weeks of at least three group therapy sessions per week. This level of care is recommended for severe symptoms or to help you transition after inpatient care.

Since OCD symptoms can vary significantly from one person to another, the best way to determine if you need an intensive outpatient program is to schedule an appointment.

Your IOP Mental Health therapist completes a thorough medical and psychological evaluation and recommends the treatment that fits your unique needs. If you enter their program, you receive expert medication management together with group therapy.

At first, many people aren’t comfortable with group therapy, but your group is limited to others with OCD. This gives you an unprecedented chance to get support from others who truly understand your challenges.

Beyond a social network that prevents you from feeling isolated, the therapist leading your group uses therapies proven to be effective for OCD, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

To learn more about OCD treatment at IOP Mental Health, call the office or request an appointment online today.