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OCD Treatment

Ketamine for OCD Treatment

The field of mental health treatment has expanded greatly in the last ten years. Innovative new mental health treatments are popping up all the time, and treating your own personal mental health disorder is becoming further and further desensitized.

OCD is one of the top 20 causes of illness-related disability, and in the United States, about 1 in 40 adults and 1 in 100 children have OCD. The first step to finding treatment for your OCD is to understand and learn more about your own mental health condition.

Ketamine, which some doctors are calling the biggest breakthrough in depression treatment in fifty years, is able to provide relief from the symptoms of OCD within minutes, rather than the weeks, a typical antidepressant may take. If you or a loved one is suffering from OCD, please call us today to help determine if ketamine infusion can help you find relief.

How Does Ketamine Help With OCD?

Exactly how ketamine treats OCD and other mental health disorders is still being researched. The current understanding is that ketamine binds to receptors in the brain and helps increase the amount of glutamate (a neurotransmitter) that is released. This will then set off a chain of reactions within the brain that affects thinking and emotional regulation.

What is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, is a mental illness that manifests as a pattern of irrational fears and unreasonable thoughts (obsessions) that lead to repeated patterns (compulsions). Repeated hand washing, continually checking to make sure doors are locked, or that you’ve turned the oven off are just a few examples of common OCD compulsions.

These repeated compulsions can even interfere with daily life activities and cause problems at home, work, or school. Approximately one in forty adults in the United States (that’s about 2.3 percent of the population) and one in a hundred children have this condition.

Here are a few other interesting OCD facts according to the National Anxiety Association:
  • It affects women and men equally
  • It can start at any age
  • It may be genetically inherited
  • Symptoms may go away, remain the same or worsen
  • Left untreated, the symptoms may continue for years

It is also not uncommon for a person with OCD to also have other mental health conditions, such as clinical depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, Tourette’s syndrome, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or panic attacks.

Lifestyle Changes That Help OCD

Medication can help treat OCD but is more effective when paired with therapy or lifestyle changes. Here are some examples of healthy lifestyle changes you can make:

Identify what triggers your OCD

Figuring out what is triggering your OCD symptoms can help you anticipate your urges before they happen. If you know what triggers your urges, you can try to ease your compulsions.

Try to resist OCD compulsions

By persistently exposing yourself to the things that trigger your OCD, you can slowly learn to resist the compulsions and rituals. One common exercise is called the “fear ladder,” where you work up to your triggers one at a time (as if climbing a ladder, rung-by-rung).

Challenge your obsessions

When an intrusive or obsessive thought comes across, ask yourself questions, like: “Is there any evidence that this obsessive thought is true?” or “Will this obsessive thought help protect me from what I am worried about?”

Exercise

Research has shown that regular exercise (between 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity a day) can be just as effective as medication. Exercise boosts important “feel good” chemicals in the brain, such as serotonin and endorphins, and also triggers the growth of new connections between brain cells. Even just half an hour of activity a day can start to improve your OCD symptoms.

Nutrition

Even people without OCD should strive to eat well – it’s good for both physical and mental health. Aim to eat smaller, well-balanced meals to keep your energy up throughout the day and avoid gastrointestinal problems.

Get more consistent sleep

If you are not getting enough sleep, you may find yourself irritable, grumpy, or fatigued. These mood changes can only worsen the symptoms of OCD.

Stress reduction

Stress may not directly cause OCD, but it can trigger symptoms or worsen the symptoms that are already there. Relaxation techniques like meditation or yoga may help you alleviate stress levels.

Can Ketamine for OCD Treatment Help You?

Are you or someone you may know suffering from OCD? Contact Summit Ketamine Innovations and find out how Ketamine Treatment for OCD can help you.

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