OCD Treatment at Feel August
Obsessive-compulsive disorder affects roughly one in forty adults, and most go years before they receive an accurate diagnosis. The intrusive thoughts feel shameful; the rituals feel rational. Effective OCD treatment exists — it begins with a thorough evaluation that distinguishes OCD from anxiety, then continues with a coordinated medication and behavioral approach.
Understanding OCD
OCD is defined by the cycle of obsessions and compulsions: intrusive, unwanted thoughts (or images, urges, or fears) that drive repetitive behaviors or mental acts intended to neutralize the discomfort. The relief is real but short-lived, which is why the cycle continues.
OCD is frequently mistaken for generalized anxiety, perfectionism, or a personality quirk. Subtypes include contamination, harm, relationship, scrupulosity, and "just-right" presentations. Each responds to evidence-based treatment, but accurate identification matters because OCD calls for a specific therapeutic approach (exposure and response prevention) that anxiety treatment alone does not provide.
Recognizing the Signs
- Intrusive thoughts, images, or urges that feel intolerable to sit with
- Repetitive behaviors (checking, washing, counting, mental review) that take significant time
- A persistent sense that something terrible will happen unless you perform a ritual
- Avoidance of situations that trigger intrusive thoughts
- Excessive doubt or need for reassurance from others
- Recognizing the rituals are excessive — and being unable to stop
Our Approach
Treatment at Feel August
OCD treatment at Feel August begins with a thorough 60-minute evaluation that distinguishes OCD from anxiety, depression, or trauma — conditions it frequently coexists with. Your provider takes the time to understand your specific subtype, the situations that trigger it, and what you have already tried.
Treatment usually involves a serotonergic medication (often at higher doses than for anxiety or depression) alongside referral to an exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapist. We track Y-BOCS scores at follow-up visits so progress is measurable, and we coordinate with your therapist when one is part of the plan.
What to Expect at Your First Appointment
Your first appointment is 60 minutes. Bring a description of the obsessions and compulsions you experience — including the ones that feel embarrassing. OCD content is often shameful by nature; your provider has heard it before and will not judge it.
After the evaluation, your provider will share their assessment, discuss medication options, and recommend ERP therapists if appropriate. You will leave with a plan and a follow-up appointment, typically within two to four weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do I have OCD or just anxiety?
- OCD and generalized anxiety overlap but are clinically distinct. OCD involves intrusive thoughts paired with compulsions performed to neutralize them; generalized anxiety involves more diffuse worry without the specific obsession-compulsion cycle. A clinical evaluation is the only reliable way to distinguish the two.
- What medications are used for OCD?
- First-line medications for OCD are SSRIs — often at higher doses than those used for anxiety or depression. Common choices include sertraline, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, and escitalopram. Treatment response often requires 8-12 weeks at therapeutic dose to evaluate properly.
- Do I also need therapy?
- Yes — exposure and response prevention (ERP) is the gold-standard behavioral treatment for OCD and pairs with medication for the best outcomes. We can refer you to ERP-trained therapists in California if you do not already have one.
- Is OCD curable?
- OCD is highly treatable — most patients see significant symptom reduction with combined medication and ERP. Many achieve long-term remission. "Cure" is not the right framework; sustainable management with the right tools is.
- Can I get OCD treatment online?
- Yes. OCD medication management is well-suited to telehealth. Feel August provides comprehensive psychiatric care for OCD throughout California via secure video.
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