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 OCD or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a chronic psychological condition. If you suffer from OCD, you may experience symptoms that range from repetitive rituals and thoughts, anxiety, restlessness and fear. OCD could also result in dangerous behaviors such as drug and alcohol abuse. The exact reasons why OCD develops is still unknown but theories include genetics and nutritional deficiencies. While OCD can be treated with medication, counseling, and alternative methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), ayurveda, and acupressure, the biggest challenge is diagnosing the condition in the first place. Countless numbers of cases of OCD remain unchecked and untreated due to misdiagnosis of the condition caused by a lack of understanding among the medical community and the public at large. If you suspect that you may have OCD it is important that you bring it to the attention of your doctor or health care provider at the earliest. Be honest when describing your symptoms to your doctor even if it embarrasses or scares you. Lack of honesty is one of the main reasons why doctors are unable to reach a correct diagnosis and prescribe the proper treatment. OCD is a treatable condition but if left untreated can feed on itself and consume a person’s life. It is therefore important to seek medical attention as soon as you recognize the symptoms of OCD whether in your self or in a loved one.

With the correct treatment, the symptoms of OCD can be managed and kept under control. This will allow the person to function normally and nurture healthy relationships. It is even possible to completely recover from the illness if treated in time. An ideal cure for OCD involves a combination of counseling and therapy, dietary changes and medication. While some doctors and psychiatrists may prescribe only medications to treat the condition, this is rarely required. Drugs such as anti-depressants and SSRIs should be used only when depression and anxiety are severe enough to hamper the daily life of the person. In other cases, medication can be used sparingly as an addendum to more effective treatment options such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and counseling. CBT is considered one of the best ways to treat OCD and involves changing a person’s way of thinking through a number of specially created behavioral exercises. CBT techniques can help a person face the challenges of OCD on a day-to-day basis and when combined with medication has shown the highest success rate in treating the condition. Other alternative methods to treat OCD include hypnotherapy, EFT, and NLP. Acupressure for OCD may also help take the edge of a person’s anxiety and fear. Manipulating certain pressure points to treat symptoms such as depression may also help in some cases.  

Apart from these, maintaining good health is an important part of treating OCD. A healthy body generally translates into a healthy mind and a balanced diet and regular exercise can go a long way towards improving a person’s mood and reducing anxiety. Home remedies for OCD can be used in conjunction with CBT and medication for the best results. These include fish oil supplements that are high in omega 3 fatty acids, as fish oil has been proven to help relieve depression and improve mood swings. Herbal supplements like St. John’s Wort and Passiflora can help relieve symptoms of depression and soothe the nervous system. Other herbal cures of OCD symptoms include Kava-Kava and Valerian root for better sleep and to reduce anxiety attacks. Yoga and pranayama breathing techniques such as anuloma-viloma pranayama, sarvangasana and paschimottasana are useful in reducing stress and anxiety. However, before starting any new treatment or remedy always check with your doctor first to prevent any other complications and side effects.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.

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