Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is one of the most misunderstood mental health conditions. People typically use the word to describe someone who loves things to be neat or counts steps on a staircase. But OCD is far more complicated and damaging than just having strange behaviors. At the same time, a lot of people want to know whether OCD is an anxiety illness.
This topic opens up a complicated conversation regarding how OCD has been grouped throughout the years, how it is similar to anxiety, and what it implies for treating both conditions.
OCD: Getting Past the Stereotypes
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental illness that causes people to have obsessive thoughts (obsessions) and compulsive actions or mental acts (compulsions) that they do again and over again to ease the distress these ideas cause. These compulsions are not done for fun, they are done because they feel like they have to be done right now.
Some common obsessions are:
- Fear of being sick
- Fear of hurting oneself or others
- Thoughts of sex or violence that you don’t want
- Being obsessed with symmetry or being accurate
Some common compulsions are:
- Too much washing or cleansing of hands
- Checking locks or appliances again and over
- Counting, drumming, or saying phrases over and over in your head
- Putting things in order till they seem “just right”
These symptoms might make it hard to do ordinary things, get along with others, and enjoy life.
Is OCD a Kind of Anxiety Disorder?
In the past, OCD was thought to be an anxiety illness. This made sense since people typically do compulsions to calm down or lessen their strong sensations of anxiousness. For instance, someone who is afraid of becoming sick would wash their hands until they are red and sore to feel better.
The American Psychiatric Association issued the fifth version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) in 2013. In this edition, OCD was put into its own category, called Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders. This category comprises:
- Excoriation (skin-picking)
- Hoarding Disorder
- Body Dysmorphic Disorder
- Trichotillomania (hair-pulling)
Even though OCD is no longer strictly an anxiety disorder, anxiety is still a big part of the illness. It has a big impact on how OCD shows up and how it is handled. It would be hard to fully grasp OCD without also knowing how it relates to anxiety.
How OCD and Anxiety Are Related
Let’s look at a frequent cycle to better understand how OCD and anxiety are connected:
- An obsession starts with a notion that keeps coming back, such as “Did I leave the stove on?”
- The person’s anxiety grows because they are afraid their house may catch fire.
- Compulsion follows: they go home and check the stove many times.
- Temporary relief: the anxiousness goes down for a little while.
- The cycle starts over again: the respite doesn’t last long, and the preoccupation comes back.
This cycle shows a bad approach to dealing with worry. The individual learns that the only way to feel secure is to do the compulsion, which makes the habit stronger. Most contemporary treatments for anxiety and OCD concentrate on breaking this pattern.
What Works to Treat OCD?
OCD is curable, and many individuals feel better after making adjustments to their lives, taking medication, and going to treatment. Let’s look at some of the best choices.
1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is one of the best ways to manage anxiety, and it works quite well for OCD. Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the best method of CBT for OCD.
ERP helps people face their fears by slowly exposing them to ideas or events that scare them without letting them do the obsessive activity. This helps calm the mind and tells the brain that the preoccupation isn’t hazardous.
For instance, a person who is afraid of germs would touch a doorknob and then fight the need to wash their hands right away. The individual learns that the anxiety goes down on its own without doing the compulsion via guided sessions and plenty of practice.
2. Drugs
Sometimes doctors give drugs like Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). Fluoxetine, sertraline, and fluvoxamine are some of them. SSRIs help control the amount of serotonin in the brain and make both obsessions and compulsions less strong.
In extreme situations, treatment and medication are typically used together for the best results.
3. Strategies for Mindfulness and Acceptance
Mindfulness-based methods may assist with both OCD and anxiety. These tactics stress the importance of accepting ideas without judging them and recognizing them without acting on them. This might assist lessen the strength of unwanted ideas and the need to get rid of them.
4. Changes to Your Way of Life
Some modifications to your lifestyle may help you recover, but they are not a substitute for therapy:
- Sleep: A brain that is well-rested can deal with worry better.
- Nutrition: Eating a balanced diet helps keep your mood consistent.
- Exercise: It has been shown that being active may help with both OCD and anxiety.
- Stress Relief: Writing in a diary, going for walks in nature, and deep breathing are all ways to build resilience.
When OCD and Other Anxiety Disorders Happen at the Same Time
A lot of individuals with OCD also have additional anxiety disorders, like:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
- Panic Disorder
- Anxiety Disorder in Social Situations
- PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder
In these situations, therapy requires dealing with both problems at the same time. A mental health expert can help you figure out which symptoms are the most important and design a treatment plan that fits.
This connection shows why many specialists still think OCD is functionally connected to anxiety disorders, even though it is officially a different diagnostic category.
Why It Matters to Have the Right Diagnosis
If you think you have OCD but really have generalized anxiety or another disorder, it might take longer to get the right therapy. Someone who thinks about things all the time could be told they have anxiety, yet those thoughts can be obsessive. They may not get ERP therapy, which is the best treatment for OCD, if the compulsive part isn’t identified.
This is why it’s so important to work with a competent therapist, particularly one who has worked with people with OCD and anxiety.
Getting Help: What to Expect When You Go to Therapy
If you or someone you care about has OCD or severe anxiety, treatment is a great place to start. At State of Mind Counseling, we care about each client and use evidence-based methods that are right for them.
Your First Session Might Include:
- A full evaluation of symptoms
- A talk on how your ideas and actions affect your everyday life
- Setting goals together
- An introduction to therapeutic techniques like CBT and ERP
Therapy is a secure and supportive place where you may find out what makes you anxious, question your negative thoughts, and discover new methods to deal with your problems.
Is OCD Still an Anxiety Disorder? Here Are My Final Thoughts
No, OCD is no longer an anxiety disorder under the DSM-5, so no. But in real life, the link between anxiety and OCD is still the most important thing to know about and manage the disorder. Both conditions affect the same parts of the brain, react to the same treatments, and typically happen at the same time.
At its core, OCD is about dread, pain, and the desire for relief that is so strong. Compulsions are a way to deal with that worry. That’s why people with OCD and anxiety typically get treated at the same time.
You’re not the only one who’s having a hard time, and you don’t have to do it all by yourself. Getting therapy from a professional may help you get out of dread and routine and into freedom and peace of mind.
Please Take Action
Are you ready to start the healing process?
At State of Mind Counseling, we provide kind, private help that is specific to your mental health journey. Our certified therapists are ready to help you with proven, effective therapy, whether you have OCD, anxiety, or both. Call us now to set up a free consultation or find out more about the services we provide.