OCD in Adults: Understanding Intrusive Thoughts and Compulsions
OCD in Adults: Symptoms, Intrusive Thoughts & Treatment in Florida | Mariposa Integrative Psychiatry
Learn about OCD symptoms, intrusive thoughts, compulsions, and treatment options. Mariposa Integrative Psychiatry provides adult psychiatric care throughout Florida.
OCD Support in Ocala, Dunnellon, Gainesville, Tampa, Orlando, West Palm Beach & Miami, Florida
Obsessive-compulsive disorder, commonly called OCD, is often misunderstood. Many people associate OCD with being extremely organized, particular, or focused on cleanliness. In reality, OCD is a mental health condition involving unwanted thoughts, images, urges, or fears that can create significant anxiety.
A person may then perform certain behaviors or mental rituals in an attempt to reduce that anxiety.
These patterns can become exhausting and interfere with relationships, work, sleep, routines, and everyday life.
What Are Obsessions?
Obsessions are intrusive and unwanted thoughts, images, sensations, or urges that repeatedly enter a person's mind.
Examples may include:
Fear of contamination or illness
Fear of accidentally harming someone
Excessive concern about making a serious mistake
Intrusive sexual or religious thoughts
Fear that something terrible will happen
Constant uncertainty about whether something was completed correctly
Feeling that objects, numbers, or routines must be "just right"
One of the most important things to understand about intrusive thoughts is that having an unwanted thought does not mean someone wants to act on it.
People with OCD are often deeply distressed by their intrusive thoughts specifically because the thoughts conflict with their values.
What Are Compulsions?
Compulsions are behaviors or mental rituals a person feels driven to perform in order to decrease anxiety or prevent something bad from happening.
Common compulsions include:
Repeatedly checking doors, appliances, emails, or locks
Excessive handwashing or cleaning
Asking others for reassurance
Repeating words or phrases mentally
Counting
Reviewing conversations repeatedly
Avoiding certain people, places, objects, or situations
Searching the internet repeatedly for reassurance about health symptoms
Compulsions may provide temporary relief, but that relief can reinforce the OCD cycle.
OCD Can Look Different From Person to Person
OCD is not always visible.
Some people perform physical rituals, while others experience mostly internal compulsions such as reviewing memories, analyzing thoughts, praying repeatedly, or mentally checking whether something feels "right."
People can also experience OCD surrounding relationships, health, morality, sexuality, religion, contamination, responsibility, or fear of losing control.
How Is OCD Treated?
Treatment may involve psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of approaches.
One of the most established psychotherapy approaches for OCD is Exposure and Response Prevention, or ERP, which is a specialized form of cognitive behavioral therapy.
Certain medications, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs, may also be used in the treatment of OCD when clinically appropriate.
Treatment should always be individualized based on symptoms, medical history, severity, previous treatment response, and the person's goals.
Psychiatric Care for Adults Across Florida
Adults experiencing OCD, intrusive thoughts, anxiety, depression, or related symptoms can seek psychiatric evaluation and treatment without necessarily traveling to an office.
Mariposa Integrative Psychiatry provides adult telepsychiatry services throughout Florida, including:
Ocala | Dunnellon | Gainesville | Tampa | Orlando | West Palm Beach | Miami
Understanding what is happening is often an important first step toward finding the right treatment approach.
Educational & Emergency Disclaimer
This article is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not establish a provider-patient relationship, and is not a substitute for an individualized psychiatric or medical evaluation.
If you are experiencing a medical or psychiatric emergency, are in immediate danger, or believe you may harm yourself or someone else, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. You may also call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
