IOP for OCD: When Outpatient Therapy Just Isn’t Enough!
For those who suffer from OCD, every day can feel like negotiating with your own mind. You might think that your fears are irrational, but you feel them anyway.
Sometimes, weekly therapy is helpful.
But what do you do when the sessions aren’t sufficient?
IOP can offer more frequent treatment but doesn’t require staying overnight. It can be useful for those who are juggling work, school, or family obligations.
When Weekly OCD Therapy Is Not Enough
Weekly therapy allows you to have time to talk about what occurred during the week. But in serious conditions of OCD, more constant assistance may be needed.
According to the NIMH, estimates are that 1.2% of adults in the United States suffer from OCD annually. The majority of adults with OCD, about 50.6%, have severe impairment.
That disability can impact the workplace, relationships, and daily functioning.
A person may take hours to perform rituals after getting up in the morning. These behaviors over time can consume the day.
How is an OCD IOP Different?
An outpatient OCD program offers increased structure compared to weekly therapy.
You still experience similar responsibilities at home, and you can often maintain your normal responsibilities.
Treatment occurs more often during the week.
Individual therapy, group therapy, skills training, and psychiatric support are all components of an IOP.
The aim is to learn to change behavior patterns when obsessive thoughts occur.
ERP Is a Huge Aspect Of OCD Treatment
ERP treatment for OCD is a crucial treatment.
ERPs are designed to help individuals slowly confront their thoughts, circumstances, or triggers that they are fearful of.
They then learn to not do their “old” routine.
Initially, it’s not always easy. But discomfort tells you that anxiety can increase and decrease without a ritual.
A systematic review of 1,134 patients in 24 randomized controlled trials indicated that ERP was a promising treatment to reduce OCD symptoms.
That’s why ERP is a critical component of evidence-based OCD treatment.
Why More Frequent Support Can Make A Difference?
OCD can tend to get worse with repetition.
A person has an intrusive thought.
Anxiety rises.
They do a compulsion.
The anxiety subsides for the time being.
Then it starts all over again.
It’s a practice that needs to be broken. An OCD therapy program offers greater opportunities to practice healthy responses. It’s possible to talk about challenging circumstances when they’re still fresh.
The Goal Is Not To Get Rid Of All the Intrusive Thoughts
We all get into periods where we think about things that we don’t want to think about. Treatment teaches you new ways of responding to those thoughts.
An intrusive thought doesn’t need to be acted upon.
That change can be gradual and will provide you with more freedom.
OCD Does Not Always Fit Into Massachusetts Life
Life in Massachusetts can be fast-paced.
Consider taking the commuter train through Boston during rush hour. Consider taking the MBTA if you’re running late.
These normal stresses may be more challenging when faced with OCD.
A person may leave the house earlier due to the added time taken to conduct checking rituals.
One person might refuse to go to restaurants near Boston Common out of concern for possible contamination.
Treatment must adapt to one’s life.
When Should Intensive OCD Treatment Be Considered?
Not all people who have OCD require an IOP.
However, with more symptoms, there may be a need for more support.
Consider intensive OCD treatment if you have:
- OCD consumes a lot of your time.
- Compulsions disrupts functioning in the workplace or school.
- You refrain from going to places due to obsessive fears.
- Treatment not going well after one week.
- Normal jobs are hard to be done in anxiety.
A certified therapist will be able to figure out if an IOP is suitable for you.
So What Really Happens In An OCD IOP?
Typically, a treatment program will start with an evaluation. The clinical team is informed about the symptoms, triggers, routines, and goals.
They will then create a therapy plan based upon your needs. Sessions can be directed towards learning the OCD patterns.
Other sessions could include ERP (exposure to the feared thought, feeling, or sensation) and coping strategies.
In addition, you can discover how to deal with failure without engaging in compulsions.
It Is Never Too Late To Come Home
Flexibility is one of the biggest benefits of outpatient treatment.
Treatment sessions can be done at home so you can practice new skills in a familiar environment.
This is important because OCD doesn’t just occur in the therapist’s office. It impacts home life, work, buying, and relationships.
Massachusetts Is Improving Access To Behavioral Health
Massachusetts developed a statewide Behavioral Health Roadmap to enhance access to mental health services.
According to the state, only about 50% of Massachusetts residents with mental illness get treated.
There’s also a Behavioral Health Help Line open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, available to the state.
These resources demonstrate the importance of having treatment options that are accessible.
How Forrest Behavioral Health Can Help
Treatment at Forrest Behavioral Health is customized mental health treatment.
Forrest Behavioral Health offers outpatient care and assistance to individuals who are suffering from OCD and other mental health issues.
Not everyone with OCD will look the same.
Symptoms can include contamination fears. Someone else might have a problem with checking again and again.
Those differences should be taken into consideration when considering treatment.
To determine if more outpatient assistance is needed, please let Forrest Behavioral Health know.
When More Support Could Mean More Freedom!
If you decide to use an IOP, don’t see it as a sign of failure in therapy. Sometimes, just weekly sessions aren’t sufficient.
It’s possible for OCD to become a part of everyday life.
There is an option to have an IOP that gives you extra structure and still have the ability to live your life.
Consider treatment if OCD is becoming a problem in your relationships, in your independence, or in your time.
Show interest in outpatient care and treatment for OCD in Massachusetts at Forrest Behavioral Health.
You don’t have to continue living your life around OCD!
If you have the support you need, you can begin to make your life larger than your compulsions.
