Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) results in obsessive images and thoughts in your mind, which you can only manage by following particular rituals. If you are finding it difficult to handle intrusive thoughts, you should consider seeking professional help. Under the leadership of Dr. Alejandra Suzuki in Irvine, Americas TMS Center is an integrative health care center that uses proven therapies and innovative new treatments, including Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) to treat your OCD condition. To find out more about what the practice can do to relieve your OCD symptoms, call or book an appointment online with Americas TMS Center.
What is OCD?
OCD stands for obsessive-compulsive disorder, a mental health condition that leads to severe emotional distress, which affects your lifestyle and daily activities at home and work. Most patients with OCD are characterized by obsessive and compulsive behavior, but one might exist without the other in several cases. You might be unaware that you have the condition during the early stages until it disrupts your life significantly. At Americas TMS Center, Dr. Suzuki is well experienced in OCD diagnosis and treatment and is dedicated to free you from the burden of this mental condition.
What Are The Symptoms Of OCD?
OCD symptoms include obsessions and compulsions, which vary between patients.
Obsessions
These are unwanted mental images and thoughts that are uncontrollable to you. For instance, you may repeatedly think that you never shut off the stove or you left your car open in the parking lot. These obsessive thoughts can cause too much anxiety, leading to compulsions.
Compulsions
These are mental acts and behaviors in response to what you are obsessed with. You develop an uncontrollable urge to do that which relieves you of anxiety obsessive thoughts. Common compulsive behavior includes constantly tidying, checking, and counting, washing and cleaning. You experience frequent compulsions to a point where your daily life is affected. You may, for instance, have to keep on rechecking if the door is shut or keep on washing your hands too frequently in the hope of eliminating germs. Obeying your compulsions can give temporary relief but does not keep away the intrusive thoughts.
What Should You Expect During OCD Treatment?
Cognitive-behavioral therapy and the use of medication are OCD’s first line of treatment. Most patients start on one treatment option and then have their treatment regimen adjusted to help get better results. Several patients respond well to antidepressant medications and psychotherapy, including exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP) and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). If you fail to obtain relief from your symptoms after using several treatment options, your condition now becomes treatment-resistant. It is time to think about TMS.
OCD affects certain areas of your brain, making them not perform up to par. During your TMS treatment, your doctor stimulates the underactive nerves using magnetic pulses to restore normal brain function and get rid of OCD symptoms. The repetitive nature of the magnetic pulses aids in reprogramming your brain long after the treatment is complete. This procedure is painless and safe when used by qualified professionals.
In conclusion, the team of specialists at Americas TMS Center is dedicated to offering you the best OCD treatments, including the painless and noninvasive TMS, to reduce the severity of your obsessions and compulsions. If you require help to overcome OCD and would like to find out more about TMS treatment, call or book an appointment online with Americas TMS Center.
