OCD and Addiction Recovery: Co-Occurring Disorders
Do you ever find yourself wanting to control aspects of your environment so that you can feel more comfortable? Do things have to be a “certain way”? Have loved ones ever told you that you’re very “particular” about where certain items need to go or how things need to be done? If so, you may have obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). It’s been estimated that around 2.2 million Americans struggle with OCD every year – and if it’s not treated early on, the risk of addiction may be on the horizons. New Scientist, a website that publishes information related to technology, space, physics and health, has highlighted that OCD is much like an addiction within itself; intrusive thoughts and a lack of control over the urges associated with those thoughts can be debilitating in day-to-day life – and when substances become involved in an attempt to lessen the intensity of their distress, another addiction can take place. Intrusive Thoughts is an organization that shares important information related to OCD as well as mindfulness, addiction, family and more – and they recently highlighted a study which found that 23% of participants with OCD also met the criteria for a substance use disorder (SUD). Addiction – in an addition to OCD – can cause a person to act irrationally; other symptoms may include:
- Changes to eating and sleeping patterns
- Greater agitation
- Confusion
- Anxiety
- Lying or hiding substance abuse
- And more
Holistic treatment practices take into account everything a person has been going through, including their past history with addiction and mental illness, their family history, social network and more. If you believe that you may be struggling with OCD and an addiction, it’s time to seek help; there are a number of highly effective practices that can bring you insight as well as healing and rejuvenation.
Avalon Malibu is a world-renowned, California state-licensed mental health and substance abuse recovery center. If you are ready to seek treatment to develop the tools you need to overcome life’s obstacles and be on the road towards happiness, health, and well-being, call us today at 888-958-7511 for a consultation. It’s never too late, and there are people here ready to help you.
