OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER (OCD)
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent obsessions or compulsions or both that cause significant distress, interfere with normal daily functioning, and consume a lot of time. The affected individual recognizes these obsessions and compulsions as excessive or unreasonable.
Examples of obsessions include but are not limited to: fear of being contaminated by touching objects others have touched, doubts that you’ve locked the door or turned off the stove, intense stress when objects aren’t orderly or facing a certain way, images of hurting yourself or someone else, thoughts about shouting obscenities or acting inappropriately, and unpleasant sexual images recurring in your mind. Some examples of compulsion signs and symptoms include hand-washing until your skin becomes raw, checking doors repeatedly to make sure they’re locked, checking the stove repeatedly to make sure it’s off, counting in certain patterns, silently repeating a prayer, word, or phrase, and arranging your canned goods to face the same way.
How We Help
The symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), are thought to occur due to biological, genetic, and environmental factors resulting in miscommunication in the brain, creating a loop thinking process. Alleviant offers traditional therapies and non-traditional treatments for OCD, depression, and anxiety, including Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and ketamine therapy.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) uses precise magnetic pulses to stimulate and target critical underactive areas of the brain. Neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) send signals and play a significant role in mood regulation helping to reduce or even eliminate symptoms.
We offer NeuroStar TMS Advanced Therapy, a safe, effective, FDA approved non-drug treatment for OCD, depression and anxiety in those who failed to achieve satisfactory improvement from previous oral medication treatment. Available at all six of our locations, NeuroStar therapy is easy, under 20 minutes, and patients are experiencing over 83% reduction of symptoms and over 62% are experiencing relief from all symptoms (remission).
If you or someone you know is ready to find a new way forward, we encourage you to reach out to our experienced and dedicated team. Request your NeuroStar TMS evaluation appointment today at an Alleviant location near you.
Ketamine Infusion Therapy increases neuroplasticity, helping neurons in the brain communicate effectively and breaking the thinking loop that OCD inflicts.
In our integrated approach, we combine TMS or ketamine infusion therapy with talk-therapy, medication management, lifestyle coaching, and mindfulness training to help you heal the obsessive disorder.
“You don’t have to live with this struggle any longer.”
– Kaye T. Patient of Alleviant Health Centers & Depression Sufferer
Ketamine Infusion Therapy
Ketamine has rapid anti-obsessional effects. Through proper regulation of glutamate, the obsessive loops that OCD causes can be broken. Frequently, oral medications that treat OCD, like Memantine, take 8-12 weeks to begin working. Memantine is a non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist, whereas ketamine is a competitive NDMA receptor antagonist. The NMDA receptor attracts Ketamine like a magnet sticks to metal. Memantine does not have the same affinity or “magnetic pull” that ketamine does to the NMDA receptor. Additionally, because Ketamine is administered intravenously it works extremely quickly.
You do not have to wait weeks or months, like with an oral medication, to determine if the medication is working. Many patients report that ketamine infusions cause their symptoms to diminish significantly or completely.
Comprehensive Psychiatric Care
We provide comprehensive holistic psychiatric care for those seeking psychiatric evaluations, counseling, and medication management. We recognize that each patient requires individualized attention and we’re committed to helping you maintain the right treatment regimen for your particular diagnosis. Our team of supportive psychiatric professionals and counselors enjoy walking alongside our patients during their healing journey.
Talk Therapy
Chronic illness frequently becomes the identity of the sufferer. Once the body is healed, the mind and spirt must undergo healing as well to re-identify with a new state of health, rather than the previous state of illness. Integrative medicine is key to successful navigation into your new state of health. We frequently recommend talk-therapy to help you create a plan for your new healthy life.
Symptoms
Obsessions are characterized by the following patterns:
Compulsions can often manifest as:
We're here to help you
Reach out to us by calling 866-951-HEAL or via this form. One of our intake coordinators will contact you within 24 – 48 hours.