[drpepper]

How do I find someone that specializes in OCD? Should I look for "cognitive behavioral therapy" or "anxiety issues"? Or should I find someone that specifically deals with OCD? And is there a website I can look people up and see references and things like that?

Thanks

[Pup]

You could go to your doctor and ask.

[Maven]

Also, go to http://www.ocfoundation.org and you can look up psychologists and psychiatrists in your area who treat OCD.

[bluzman]

I would hoenestly recommend Cognative Behavioural Therapy together with medication as they both compliment each other and enviromental changes I found could be quite impacting on lessening the anxt of living with OCD

[Maven]

Unfortunately, it's not always possible to get both treatments. I've never had cognitive behavior therapy, because there's no one who does it in my area, and no one's offered it to me. I've asked pdocs and psychologists in the past, but they don't know anything about it, they say. Well, one decided to try, and he told me to "Touch that bookcase," and I did, but it didn't matter because I was "dirty" already, and that was all he did. Plus, I'm told that if you're going to do CBT, you should find an expert.

[jena2nsu]

I would have to agree with bluzman. When treating OCD, it is probably best to have a mix of both medication and cognitive behavioral therapy, at least initially. The medication will likely provide a cushion for you to begin the behavioral therapy. Over time, you can be slowly weened from the medication as your behavioral patterns improve.

In fact, most studies have shown that a mix of medication and cognitive behavioral therapy is most effective.

[Maven]

I don't think I can ever be weaned off the meds. I tried it, under my T's care. I took over two years to get completely off the meds. Within a month, I was in constant anxiety (which wasn't the case when I was off meds until Luvox, so I wonder if it or any of the other drugs actually caused me to become dependent on them) and my OCD was unbelievably bad. I felt constantly on the brink of a panic attack, and came very close several times. Many of the OCD issues and anxiety fears I'd overcome years before came back like a tidal wave. The OCD is still hell.