OCD and Rehab

Today, over 2 million people in the United States live with some form of obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD. Many live with OCD for years without diagnosis or treatment. This frequently leads to self-medicating and self-soothing with drugs or alcohol. While this may provide temporary relief, like other co-occurring mental health disorders, drugs and alcohol can worsen the effects of OCD.

If you or someone in your life has trouble with OCD and addiction recovery, call Northpoint Recovery today. At Northpoint Recovery, we provide a range of dual diagnosis treatments for addiction and co-occurring disorders. Call us at 888.296.8976 to get started with OCD and addiction rehab treatments. 

What Is OCD?

OCD, or obsessive-compulsive disorder, is rooted in worry, anxiety, and fear. While OCD is different for every, it manifests as obsessive cleaning, self-harm, hoarding, or other repetitive behaviors. For those with OCD, repetitive actions like cleaning or self-harm can give them a sense of control over their cyclical thought patterns. Some OCD patterns might include:

• Fear of germs
• Fear of contamination
• Unwanted sexual thoughts and desires
• Forbidden religious thoughts
• Aggressive thoughts 
• Self-harm
• Thoughts of harming others
• A desire for order or symmetry 

Examples of common compulsions might include: 

• Excessively cleaning your home
• Excessively and repetitively washing your hands
• Arranging items in a particular way
• Repetition of checking to see if a door is locked or the oven is off
• Compulsive counting
• Getting upset when you cannot complete a compulsive habit

One of the most common mental health disorders in the United States, OCD, is anxiety disorder. While many people live with untreated OCD, they may believe it’s up to them to live with it. OCD is treatable and should be managed by a mental health professional. 

Those living with compulsive thoughts ruminate on the past or future. They have trouble living in the present. Instead, they fear something that might happen or worry about something that already occurred. This worry puts their nervous systems in a state of dysregulation. This can raise heart rate and make it hard to breathe. For many people, OCD can lead to panic attacks and other anxiety. OCD can ebb and flow over time. Sometimes symptoms may calm and flare based on certain triggers. 

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Addiction

About 20% of people living with an anxiety disorder like OCD also have an addiction. People will use drugs or alcohol to break OCD cycles, escape emotions, and self-soothe. Drug or alcohol use will provide temporary relief. Unfortunately, OCD symptoms will return and worsen when these effects wear off. 

People who repeatedly turn to substances to cope with OCD often develop drug or alcohol dependence. Those living with anxiety disorders like OCD already have lower serotonin and dopamine levels, making them more susceptible to addiction. Dual diagnosis treatment is the best way to help people with OCD and addiction receive integrative care for recovery. 

Start Integrative Dual Diagnosis for OCD and Addiction Today

If you or a loved one are struggling with OCD and substance abuse, know you are not alone. The team at Northpoint Recovery is here to help you with a dual diagnosis for comprehensive recovery. 

With several clinics across Idaho, Northpoint Recovery treats dual diagnosis for addiction and co-occurring disorders. We understand the relationship between OCD and addiction. Our inpatient programs can help you understand, treat, and manage your anxiety. Our individual, group, and family therapy programs can help improve communication, boundaries, and understanding during and after addiction recovery. 

Call Northpoint Recovery Now to Learn How OCD and Addiction Rehab Can Help You

Don’t let OCD hold you back. Call us now at 888.296.8976 to learn more about treatment for OCD and addiction recovery. Get started now.