Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) creates unreasonable thoughts, fears, and worries that can affect all aspects of people’s lives. It is closely related to anxiety as it can cause people to experience symptoms that make them think they are dealing with an anxiety disorder. Learning about OCD and anxiety and how they are connected is essential if you or a loved one is experiencing OCD symptoms or have an anxiety disorder.
The Ranch Tennessee is a full-service mental health treatment center located near Nashville and welcomes anyone who is struggling with OCD, anxiety disorders, or other treatable conditions. Our anxiety treatment program uses cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) to treat the psychological symptoms and medication to ease physical symptoms and any withdrawals and cravings from substance abuse. You will learn how to recognize triggers and how to prevent symptoms from spiking or causing a panic attack.
Understanding the Connection Between OCD and Anxiety
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th edition classifies OCD as a separate disorder class known as obsessive-compulsive and related disorders.1 Other types of disorders in this class include body dysmorphic disorder, hoarding disorder, and trichotillomania, or hair-pulling disorder.
The reason for the change is due to anxiety disorder being described as a “future-oriented” mood state where people with anxiety are described as behaviorally preparing for future events they anticipate as a threat. People with OCD are more affected by recurring thoughts, images, and behavioral urges that cause anxiety symptoms.
While researchers still do not know why people develop OCD, they believe it is caused by the following:
- Genetics – Studies suggest that children of parents with OCD are more susceptible to developing OCD later in life.
- Personality – Those who hold themselves to high standards and are very neat and orderly may develop OCD.
- Personal experiences – It is believed that personal experiences can cause a person to develop OCD. This includes childhood trauma and abuse, bullying, and inconsistent parenting. People who experience high levels of stress and chronic anxiety are also at risk of developing OCD.
It is possible for a person to develop OCD and an anxiety disorder, such as generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety. If this happens, they will experience OCD symptoms as well as anxiety symptoms that include:
- Feeling physically anxious
- Muscle tension
- Insomnia
- Fatigue
- Feeling irritable
While OCD and anxiety are two separate disorders, both are treatable through a mental health treatment program. These programs use behavioral and holistic therapies, life-skills training, and medication to ease any physical symptoms that prevent a full recovery.
Treating Anxiety Symptoms
Treating anxiety symptoms requires participating in several different types of treatment programs. They include behavioral therapy such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy, mindfulness practices, and medication to ease any anxiety symptoms.
Here is a breakdown of the ways that they treat anxiety symptoms:
Behavioral Therapy
CBT is one of the top therapeutic modalities for treating all types of addiction and mental health conditions. For people with anxiety, therapists will talk to the client to uncover the underlying issue behind their symptoms. They use various techniques to identify the negative behaviors created by the anxiety and learn new behaviors to replace the old ones.
Other types of behavioral therapy that can help ease anxiety symptoms include:
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
- Motivational interviewing (MI)
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
Anxiety treatment programs also use holistic therapy to treat anxiety symptoms. These include mindfulness practices, yoga, meditation, nutrition education, journaling, and creative self-expression.
Medication-Assisted Treatment
Medication is used alongside behavioral therapy to treat all aspects of the illness. For people with anxiety symptoms, they will be given selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) to treat the symptoms of anxiety. They may also use anti-anxiety medications, such as Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, and beta-blockers to manage physical symptoms, including rapid heart rate and sweating.
Lifestyle Changes
One of the best ways to deal with anxiety symptoms is to make several lifestyle changes that can reduce anxiety symptoms. You will learn about stress management techniques and how eating a healthy diet can improve your overall health and ease symptoms. Other lifestyle changes that can reduce anxiety symptoms include:
- Getting enough physical exercise to burn off pent-up negative energy
- Getting enough sleep each night
- Limit caffeine and alcohol intake
- Spend time with friends and family
- Join a support group to learn more tips on reducing your anxiety symptoms
These are just a few tips on how to reduce your anxiety symptoms. Enrolling in an anxiety treatment program is the smart choice to make when you struggle to control your anxiety.
Explore the Anxiety Treatment Program at The Ranch Tennessee Today
The Ranch Tennessee welcomes people from all walks of life who are struggling with anxiety disorders and are looking for a comprehensive anxiety treatment program. Our team will welcome you to our discreet location and perform a health assessment to determine the severity of the disorder. We use this information to create a customizable program that includes behavioral and holistic therapy and medication to ease any anxiety symptoms.
For more information on the treatment of OCD and anxiety, fill out our online contact form or call 1.844.876.7680 today to schedule a tour and begin your road to recovery.
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