Restore your balance, attention, and control

Everyone worries sometimes, but OCD obsessions tend to be persistent, distressing, and impossible to ignore. They may include:

• Fear of germs, dirt, chemicals, bodily fluids, or environmental contaminants
• Worrying about causing harm or making a detrimental mistake
• Intrusive violent and/or sexual thoughts
• Needing symmetry, order, or exactness
• Intense guilt or fear of doing something “immoral”
• Repetitive doubts (e.g., “Did I lock the door?”), often leading to repeatedly performing a task or action 

While they vary from person to person, OCD obsessions are frequent and cause severe anxiety, leading to incidents where a person cannot function.

Compulsions are repetitive actions that feel necessary to neutralize the obsession or prevent something bad from happening. They may include:

• Excessive handwashing, cleaning, or sanitation
• Checking (doors, appliances, body)
• Counting, tapping, or repeating words
• Ordering or arranging items “just right”
• Seeking reassurance or confessing repeatedly
• Being overly careful or refusing to partake in certain activities
• Doing things in a certain order

The behavior comforts the person who is affected and reduces their anxiety,  but it’s possible to take control of the compulsions with treatment.

While there’s no single cause, OCD is linked to differences in brain chemistry (especially serotonin), family history, and personality traits like perfectionism or heightened responsibility. Trauma and chronic stress can also play a role.

In some cases, OCD can show up with repetitive physical behaviors, such as blinking, sniffing, or shoulder shrugging. These are more common in younger individuals and may resemble tics.

You’ll start with a psychiatric evaluation with one of our Arizona- or Colorado-licensed psychiatric nurse practitioners. We’ll talk through:

• The types of obsessions and compulsions you experience
• How much time they take up each day
• The level of distress and impact on your life
• When symptoms started and how they’ve changed

We also consider whether another condition (like anxiety, depression, or PTSD) may be contributing to these experiences.

From there, we’ll collaborate with you to create a medication plan that feels aligned with your goals.

Our approach centers around psychiatry, meaning we start with a thoughtful evaluation and use evidence-based medication management to reduce the intensity and frequency of OCD symptoms.

Here’s what that looks like:

• A psychiatric evaluation: Your first appointment will involve a deep conversation about who you are, your story, what you're experiencing, how it affects you, and what you hope will change. 
• Medication management: We’ll explore medication options and find one that will help reduce obsessive thinking and compulsive behavior. Then, we’ll check in regularly and adjust your treatment plan as needed.
• Therapy referrals: While our primary focus is psychiatry, we can refer you to a trusted therapist if exposure and response prevention (ERP) — a specific type of cognitive behavioral therapy proven to help people with OCD — seems like a good fit for you.

OCD doesn’t usually go away on its own. Without support, symptoms can intensify over time, leading to:

• Increased anxiety or depression
• Difficulty at work or school
• Strained relationships
• Avoidance of people, places, or activities you once enjoyed
• A reduced quality of life

With proper treatment, OCD becomes more manageable, and your day-to-day life can become more like your own again.