Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a severe mental illness that takes over your life. Rachel Smith-Bowery, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, is a psychiatric mental health specialist in Copperas Cove, Texas, who provides comprehensive care for people with OCD through telehealth. Rachel diagnoses OCD and creates a personalized plan that helps you regain control of your life. Call today or use the online booking tool to schedule your telehealth consultation. Rachel is licensed in Texas and Florida.
Washing your hands frequently to avoid getting sick doesn’t mean you have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Many people claim to be “a little OCD.” But OCD isn’t a quirky trait. It’s a mental illness affecting your thoughts, feelings, and behavior.
People with OCD have recurring unwanted thoughts or ideas that trigger anxiety and an urge to engage in a ritualistic act that’s supposed to dispel the unwanted thoughts and relieve the anxiety. These symptoms are called obsessions and compulsions.
Obsessions are unwanted, recurring thoughts, impulses, or images that cause emotional distress. Fear of contamination, taboo thoughts about sex or religion, and extreme worry that you forgot to do something are examples of OCD obsessive thoughts.
Compulsions are the physical or mental acts a person with OCD feels they need to engage in to prevent or relieve the emotional distress caused by the obsession. Compulsions include excessive cleaning or hand-washing, ritualistic counting, or constantly checking locks or light switches.
OCD affects people of all ages, including children, teens, and adults. Researchers are still investigating the causes of OCD but believe that genetics and environment play roles in the mental illness’s development.
Researchers also theorize that OCD occurs because of differences in brain structure and function.
You should schedule a telehealth psychiatric consultation with Rachel if you have obsessive thoughts and compulsions that take up hours of your day and affect your quality of life.
Rachel is a skilled mental health specialist who treats all people 8 and older. She does a thorough psychiatric evaluation at your initial consultation to come up with a diagnosis and treatment plan.
Rachel personalizes your OCD treatment based on how severe your symptoms are. Your plan can include medication management and psychotherapy.
Rachel prescribes psychiatric medication to help reduce your OCD symptoms. High doses of serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs), a group of antidepressants, seem most effective against OCD symptoms.
Rachel customizes your psychotherapy treatment, using techniques that help you manage and reduce your obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors.
OCD is a treatable mental illness when you have the right plan and support. Call Rachel Smith-Bowery, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, today or schedule an appointment online for expert care.