It’s not always easy for people to understand obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Only a select few people can wrap their heads around this mental illness. One element that most people don’t know is the strong connection between OCD and addiction. Why is there a link between these disorders, and how do people with OCD get help for addiction.
Understanding OCD
Before people can seek treatment for OCD and addiction, they have to know that they have OCD. Unfortunately, a majority of people who have it never seek treatment. Characterizing OCD is hard because everyone experiences it to a different degree. In general, it occurs when compulsions and obsessions have traits such as:
- Consuming a large amount of time (more than an hour each day)
- Causing a lot of distress
- Interfering with daily life, including social activities, family, relationships, work, and school
- Making it nearly impossible to concentrate
- Engaging in compulsive behavior
Not everyone who experiences fear, worry or doubt needs an OCD treatment program. In fact, it’s normal for people to have these issues from time to time. Once these worries interfere with daily life, it’s time to get help.
OCD and Addiction
Understanding the link between OCD and addiction isn’t very hard when people learn that both are mental disorders. Those who have one disorder are susceptible to others. However, OCD is a bit more common in people with addiction. What comes first, though — OCD or addiction? In most cases, OCD comes first. Then, people use drugs and alcohol to mask the anxiety and depression that they experience. Some people have these symptoms on a daily basis and don’t express that it bothers them. Instead, they turn to drugs.
How Can Rehab Help?
Now that people know the link between OCD and addiction, it’s important to know that rehab can help. Some rehab centers offer a service that addresses both addiction and underlying mental disorders, such as OCD. This service is a dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorder treatment. This treatment is helpful because it helps people overcome both issues. Failure to address OCD often results in relapse. After all, it’s a common cause of addiction. Without professional help, people can’t learn to manage either problem properly. In many cases, they refuse to seek professional help on their own. At this point, it’s up to family members to get them the help that they need.
Turn to Us to Get Help
Are you looking for Pennsylvania addiction recovery services? If so, consider getting help at Steps to Recovery. We’re a Pennsylvania rehab center that takes great pride in offering co-occurring disorder treatment. However, we offer a lot more than that, including:
- Intensive outpatient program
- Outpatient rehab
- Partial hospitalization program
- Group and individual therapy
- Gender-specific treatment
Don’t give up on addiction treatment just because you have OCD. Find a treatment program that can help you with both OCD and addiction. Start by giving us a call at [DirectNumber].
