OCD Treatment in Orange County, California
What is OCD?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disorder in which people have obsessions, which are recurring, unwanted and unpleasant thoughts, ideas, urges, or images. To get rid of the thoughts, people with OCD feel driven to do something repetitively (i.e., perform a compulsion, also called a ritual). The obsessions and compulsions -- such as hand washing/cleaning, checking on things, and mental acts like counting -- are problematic. They are time consuming (for example, take more than an hour a day), cause significant emotional distress, or significantly interfere with a person’s daily activities such as social interactions.
Many people without OCD have distressing thoughts or repetitive behaviors. However, these are not time consuming, distressing, or impairing. For people with OCD, thoughts are persistent and intrusive, and the repetitive behaviors are rigid (it feels as though they must be done). Not performing the behaviors (compulsions, rituals) commonly causes great distress. For example, the person may fear that dire consequences will occur to self or loved ones if the behaviors are not completed. Most people with OCD know or suspect that their obsessional thoughts are not realistic or true, but they nonetheless have difficulty disengaging from the obsessive thoughts or stopping the compulsive behaviors.
OCD currently affects 1-2% of people in the United States, and, among adults, slightly more women than men are affected. OCD often begins in childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood.
How to know if I need medication support for OCD?
What are the symptoms?
Recurrent, unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that cause distress
Excessive handwashing, cleaning, or avoidance of contamination
Repeated checking of locks, appliances, emails, or other tasks
Constant need for reassurance from others
Counting, repeating, or performing rituals in a specific way
Intense discomfort when things feel "not right"
Difficulty tolerating uncertainty
Intrusive thoughts involving harm, illness, morality, religion, or relationships
Spending more than one hour per day on obsessive thoughts or compulsive behaviors
How we can help at SHINE Psychiatry
OCD is highly treatable, and effective treatment can help individuals reduce the impact of obsessive thoughts, decrease compulsive behaviors, and regain control over their daily lives. At Shine Psychiatry, we provide comprehensive OCD evaluations, medication management, and therapy-informed treatment planning tailored to each patient's unique needs.
Treatment may include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), medication management with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), mindfulness-based strategies, anxiety management techniques, and ongoing support to prevent relapse and promote long-term recovery.
Our goal is to help patients build confidence in managing uncertainty, reduce the time spent on obsessions and compulsions, and improve overall functioning, relationships, and quality of life. If obsessive thoughts, compulsive behaviors, or anxiety are interfering with your daily life, we're here to help.