The most effective care for OCD is specific. General talk therapy often isn’t enough, and reassurance can make symptoms worse. These are the approaches with the strongest evidence.
ERP is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy built for OCD. With a trained therapist, you gradually face the thoughts, images and situations that trigger your fear, and practice not doing the compulsion that usually follows.
Over time, your brain learns that you can tolerate uncertainty and discomfort, and that the feared outcome doesn’t depend on the ritual. You set the pace together, starting with small steps.
{{ s.body }}
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most commonly prescribed medications for OCD. They can reduce how intense and sticky obsessions feel, which can make ERP easier to engage with.
OCD often responds to higher doses than depression, and it can take 8 to 12 weeks to notice a change. Clomipramine, an older medication, is another option. A psychiatrist can help you weigh benefits and side effects.
Never start, stop or change a medication without talking to your prescriber.
Search for therapists who specialize in OCD and are trained in ERP.
This page is based on these sources and reviewed by a licensed, ERP-trained OCD therapist. It's education, not medical advice.