Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health disorder. It involves a cyclical pattern of obsessions and compulsions. For people who struggle with OCD, it’s common to experience unwanted thoughts and feelings. These uncomfortable thoughts and feelings often facilitate compulsive behaviors. A person who has OCD may use compulsive behavior to satisfy their anxiety.

What are some common types of OCD?

• Harm OCD
• Checking OCD
• Contamination OCD
• Relationship OCD

What are some of the factors that can possibly trigger OCD in someone?

• Stress
• Anxiety
• Loss of control

What does recovery from OCD feel like?

Working toward recovery from OCD can feel overwhelming at times, but there will also be moments when it can feel liberating. You will probably continue to enter into situations where you may feel uncomfortable at first. But, with the right treatments and tools provided to you by a licensed mental health expert, you can work each time toward managing your uncomfortable thoughts and feelings. The goal of OCD recovery is to feel like your OCD is not in control of you anymore, but rather that you’re in control of it. Working toward this state of mind can be liberating and empowering for many people.

How can you get your compulsions under control?

• Maintain regular visits with a licensed mental health expert — To feel like you’re on the appropriate track toward recovery from OCD, it’s generally recommended that you visit a mental health expert. Licensed mental health professionals can be a great resource for those who have obsessive-compulsive disorder because they can help guide you through your disorder and introduce you to what recovery from OCD might feel like.
• Learn your unique triggers — An important component of working toward OCD recovery is knowing that your feelings can be brought on or intensified by certain triggers. If you work toward identifying your personal triggers, you can then begin to deconstruct and avoid them.
• Distract yourself from your compulsions — In some instances, it may help to distract yourself from your compulsions. The goal is to spend the least amount of time possible ruminating on obsessive-compulsive thoughts.
• Understand that your thoughts aren’t you — Some people with OCD find that they can better manage their thoughts by knowing and telling themselves in the face of an obsession that their thoughts don’t make them who they are. Separate your intrusive, unwanted thoughts from your identity by observing them when they appear and then letting them pass. 
• Know OCD can’t be “cured” — One thing to know about OCD recovery is that there is no “cure” for this mental health disorder. It’s more realistic to learn how to manage your obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms so that you can benefit from improved quality of life. Treatment methods like therapy and medication are not meant to cure your OCD, but rather make your symptoms easier to manage from day to day.

Lightfully wants to help you understand what recovery from OCD feels like

Our mission at Lightfully is to work with individuals to change their life compassionately. We strive to provide high-quality mental health care to various types of clients through a focused approach to process-based therapy. The framework of our clinic consists of evidence-based, clearly defined, data-driven and whole-person-centered care. Lightfully offers various layers of service to both adults and teens: residential treatment, Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program (vIOP), Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), and Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), also referred to as our Day Treatment Program. We regularly see clients who actively manage mood disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders and trauma disorders. If you are someone who wants to know what recovery from OCD feels like, we’d like to help you. Our therapists are experienced in dealing with clients who struggle to manage their OCD and can help them work toward recovery.

Our licensed, clinical experts see each client as a complex and layered human — not just a diagnosis. We value our clients as they are and hope to enrich their lives through treatment. Our vision for the future is an authentic and loving community where everyone can be seen, heard, and valued as they are. We believe in the light within each individual, and when that light is properly nurtured it can allow a person to shine brighter than ever before.

Change is possible. When you’re ready to take the first step, reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of you.