Where do you go from here?
Research has shown that both medication and behavior therapy are very effective in treating OCD. However every individual responds differently. Therefore, you should work closely with your doctor to choose the most appropriate treatment and to monitor your progress.
Behavior therapy—Medication and behavior therapy often complement each other. While medication alters the body’s level of serotonin, behavior therapy helps the patient learn to resist the compulsions and accept the obsessions. Research has shown that over a period of time, behavior therapy can also change brain chemistry.

Behavior therapy teaches the person how to confront their fears and reduce anxiety without performing the rituals. Gradually, the person exposes himself or herself to situations that cause anxiety, but refrains from performing the rituals. For example, an individual might be exposed to the floor, garbage or other contaminated objects. This will cause anxiety for the person, but he or she will not reduce these feelings by washing, cleaning or performing rituals. Over time, the person realizes that the feared consequences will not occur and the anxiety decreases. This is a process called habituation.

There are many skilled OCD treatment providers in Seattle and the Puget Sound Area. One of the best ways to find a provider is to attend the meetings and talk with other OCD sufferers.

The following links may also help you find a provider;

Find Treatment Support and Resources

https://iocdf.org/find-help/?_provider_proximity=47.6062095%2C-122.3320708%2C50%2CSeattle%252C%2520WA%252C%2520USA&_listing_types=iocdf_clinic%2Ciocdf_program%2Ciocdf_support_group%2Ciocdf_provid


http://www.abct.org/Members/?m=FindTherapist&fa=FT_Form&nolm=1
 


Intensive Treatment
While more mild cases of OCD can be treated via outpatient visits with doctors, sometimes more severe cases are best treated with intensive inpatient/outpatient treatment. Find an intensive treatment program at

https://iocdf.org/clinics/

 

Common Obsessive Thought
Fear of contamination
Fear of causing harm to another
Fear of making mistake
Fear of behaving in a socially unacceptable manner
Common Compulsive Behaviors
Repeated checking
Counting/Repeating
Collecting/Hoarding
Repeated Cleaning
Excessive Arranging