Addiction And Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder May Go Hand-in-Hand With Addiction
Obsessive-compulsive disorder may occur alongside addiction for some people. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 9.2 million American adults have a co-occurring mental illness and addiction, with anxiety disorders being more common among people in treatment for addiction. This means that if you have a mental health condition like obsessive-compulsive disorder, you may be more likely to develop an addiction. As the National Institute of Mental Health explains, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) involves intrusive thoughts that cause a person anxiety. To cope with OCD symptoms, people engage in compulsive behaviors to try to control the intrusive thoughts. OCD and drug abuse can occur if a person uses drugs to try to cope with the anxiety that OCD causes. If you are living with OCD and addiction, it is important to understand the symptoms of both conditions so that you can seek the treatment you need in order to recover.
Immediate Placement in Rehab for a Dual Diagnosis
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Symptoms
Per the National Institute of Mental Health, if you suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder, you will experience obsessions which could be upsetting as well as intrusive thoughts. Obsessions may also be disturbing mental images or urges. These can involve fear of germs, urges to have everything be perfectly in order, thoughts of aggression, inappropriate sexual urges, or fear of harm to loved ones. Ultimately, these obsessions cause significant anxiety and will lead you to engage in compulsive behaviors, such as obsessively tidying your house or workspace, counting things compulsively, washing your hands, or completing checking behaviors over and over again, like ensuring that the door is locked. These symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder can be extremely anxiety-provoking, and some people may find themselves turning to drugs to calm the anxiety. Certain drugs can calm the nervous system, and if you have OCD, they can make you feel better, at least temporarily.
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Addiction Symptoms
If you think you are experiencing both OCD and drug abuse, it is also helpful to understand the symptoms of an addiction. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, if you have an addiction, you will be diagnosed with a clinical condition called a substance use disorder. There are various symptoms of addiction that go along with a substance use disorder, but you only have to show two of these symptoms to be diagnosed with a mild disorder. If you show four to five symptoms, you will meet the criteria for a moderate substance use disorder, whereas six or more symptoms are indicative of a severe substance use disorder. Some addiction symptoms associated with a substance use disorder include strong drug cravings, unsuccessful attempts to stop using drugs, and giving up activities that you enjoy in order to use drugs. If you have developed an addiction, you might also use drugs in situations where it is dangerous or continue to use drugs even if it makes your obsessive-compulsive disorder worse.
The Risks of OCD and Drug Abuse
If you have obsessive-compulsive disorder and find it difficult to cope, you may begin using drugs in an attempt to cope with the condition. Initially, you might find that drugs relax you, but over time, OCD and drug abuse is likely to cause you more problems. Not only can substance abuse lead to addiction for someone who has OCD; it can also make the obsessive-compulsive disorder even worse. For instance, drugs may calm your nerves when you are experiencing obsessive thoughts, but over time, you can develop a tolerance to drugs.
As the National Institute on Drug Abuse explains, if you develop a tolerance for drugs, you will need larger and larger doses to achieve the same effect. This means that the dose of drugs that used to relax you will no longer be enough, and you will need to seek out more drugs in order to feel better. With tolerance, you may also develop a dependence upon the drugs, meaning your body will not function the same without them. If you try to stop using drugs or to reduce your drugs use, you will then experience withdrawal symptoms, which could include heightened anxiety. In the end, the anxiety you tried to calm through drug use only becomes worse.
Immediate Placement in Treatment for a Dual Diagnosis
Treatment for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Addiction
If you have OCD and drug abuse and are in need of treatment, you will need to find a program that can help with both the obsessive-compulsive disorder and the addiction. Fortunately, there are addiction treatment centers that are qualified to treat co-occurring mental illness and addiction. It is important to seek help for both the obsessive-compulsive disorder and the addiction, because if you do not address the mental illness, you may continue to use drugs in order to cope with it. On the other hand, if you do not address your addiction, your obsessive-compulsive disorder may also get worse.
Therapies Used for OCD and Drug Abuse
If you have been living with obsessive-compulsive disorder and addiction, there are therapies used for OCD and drug abuse. One such therapy is cognitive behavioral therapy. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, this type of therapy has been found to be just as effective as taking medication. Cognitive behavioral therapy is also useful for addiction, as it can help you to identify situations that may trigger you to use drugs and learn how to cope with them, according to experts. Other forms of therapy, such as exposure therapy, may be useful to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder, but ultimately, the best form of treatment for you will depend upon your unique needs. What is most important is that your treatment plan addresses both OCD and drug abuse.
Treatment for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Addiction in California
If you are ready to get help for obsessive-compulsive disorder and addiction, Resurgence California is happy to offer dual-diagnosis treatment. This means that we can treat both OCD and drug abuse. We conduct a thorough psychological assessment of every patient who comes through our door, and we will create a comprehensive treatment plan that meets your unique needs. We believe in using a personalized treatment approach, and we offer a variety of therapies, including cognitive behavioral therapy, group counseling, and dialectical behavioral therapy. We provide both inpatient and outpatient rehab, and our inpatient programs are offered in a homelike setting, with access to nature trails, waterfalls, pools, beaches, and piers, so you can recover in a relaxing, natural environment.
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Paying for Addiction and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Treatment at Resurgence
Finding a way to cover the cost of treating obsessive-compulsive disorder and addiction is probably on your mind. The good news is that at Resurgence California, we accept most PPO insurance plans as well as private payment methods. We also offer a free insurance verification program. Simply call us or fill out a form on our website, and we will tell you what your insurance covers and how much you can expect to pay out of pocket for your treatment. Once you begin rehab, we will communicate with your insurance company to take some of the work out of the process for you. Call us today to begin your treatment journey, and we will help you to recover from OCD and drug abuse.
Sources:
- https://www.samhsa.gov/medication-assisted-treatment/medications-counseling-related-conditions/co-occurring-disorders
- https:https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/index.shtml
- https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/media-guide/science-drug-use-addiction-basics
- https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/treatment-approaches-drug-addiction
