OCD Help

There are different types of help or treatments that can help you feel better. Most people with OCD won’t have to go to hospital unless their problems are very serious.

Visit your GP

If you have some of the symptoms of OCD then speak to your doctor and explain how you are feeling. There are various treatments or ways to help that your GP can offer you but left untreated, OCD is unlikely to get better and could get worse.

Self-help

If your symptoms are mild, you may be given a self-help book or video to follow on your own at your own pace with occasional contact with a professional.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy CBT

There are two types of CBT used to treat OCD, Exposure and Response Prevention or Cognitive Therapy. Nice is the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence and it makes recommendations to healthcare professionals about different treatments. Nice says that children and young people with OCD who have moderate to severe problems with everyday life and those with OCD who are only mildly impaired but where self-help books with guidance from a doctor either didn’t work or was refused, should be offered CBT (including ERP) that involves the family or carers and is adapted to suit the developmental age of the child.

Exposure and Response Prevention ERP

CBT is a psychological therapy that helps you to understand your thoughts and behaviour and teaches you to think differently about things. ERP involves being exposed to things that make you feel anxious but with support from a therapist to help you think about things differently. You could be offered this therapy on your own or as part of a group with other people who have OCD. By being exposed to what had made you feel anxious before, it gradually reduces the anxiety. Basically it helps you to face your fears.

Cognitive Therapy

Cognitive Therapy is a psychological therapy which helps you change your reaction to thoughts that make you anxious rather than getting rid of the thoughts. This therapy is suitable if you have worrying thoughts but do not perform any rituals.

Medication

The GP may prescribe you with a type of antidepressant called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors SSRI. If you are under 18 years old, you should only be prescribed with one of two SSRIs, either Setraline (brand name Lustral) or Fluvoxamine (brand name Faverin) so check with your doctor if you have been prescribed a different antidepressant for OCD as it may not be suitable for you.

Antidepressants may be prescribed as the only treatment for OCD or alongside therapy such as CBT so you have medication and therapy at the same time. SSRIs are prescribed for depression but can also help with OCD. It can take a few weeks for you to feel the benefits of antidepressants so don’t worry if you don’t feel different overnight. Do speak to your GP if you experience any side effects or if you don’t feel any different after you have been taking them for a few weeks.

Specialist help

If your symptoms of OCD are serious and ERP and CBT are not helping you, then the GP may refer you to get specialist help from a child and adolescent psychiatrist who would discuss further treatment with you.

Nice highlights that as OCD can last some time, particular care should be given to young people at the transition from young people’s to adults services. It says that treatment for young people should include parents and carers where possible. Nice also suggests that where OCD can affect your work or academic life, the healthcare professionals should liaise with other professionals from these organisations.

See the next section for further sources of help and information