Teenage OCD Symptoms

 OCD treatment in all age groups depends on different factors, including severity, underlying issues, and mental health status. Usually, you will have to undergo a medical evaluation performed by licensed professionals. Your doctor will provide appropriate options to control your disorder based on your evaluation. The same procedure is followed at rehabs to design a customised plan tailored to the patient’s needs. The program will also include treatment for any other mental health issues diagnosed through the evaluation. Since adolescents with OCD also tend to have other problems, personalised plans are ideal.

Typically, a customised plan for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder in teenagers includes one or more of the following:

Psychotherapy

Different forms of psychotherapy can help a teen with OCD control recurring thoughts and stop them from acting on them. One particular form, known as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), includes a component known as exposure and response prevention (ERP). ERP works by slowly exposing a patient to fear or an obsession so they can learn to resist and control their urge to engage in compulsive behaviours. For instance, some teenagers with OCD fear dirt and germs or are obsessed with cleaning and hygiene. As a result, they consistently wash their hands or take showers even if it negatively impacts their skin health or causes problems like blisters and dermatitis.

In ERP, a patient with a fear of dirt is gradually exposed to it multiple times under the supervision of a specialist. Over time, the specialist helps the patient develop control mechanisms that can keep him from acting out on his compulsive rituals. Although CBT takes consistent effort and time to work, it can significantly improve the quality of life in adolescents with OCD.

Habitat Reversal Training

In habitat reversal training, a specialist helps you understand your triggers, develop competing responses, and practice relaxation techniques. Through this training, you can resist compulsive thoughts and behaviours by identifying them before or while they occur and taking steps to stop them. This training method takes several weeks of effort and diligent practice but has long-term effects that can be particularly beneficial to adolescents. It is common to combine habitat reversal training with other therapies at a rehab for faster results.

Medication 

Psychiatric medications, including antidepressants, can aid in managing symptoms of OCD, specifically in patients with other mental health disorders. Depending on your initial medical evaluation, your healthcare provider may simultaneously prescribe more than one medicine. Additionally, your medication may change after a specific period depending on your results, overall health, and associated effects.

Imaginal Exposure Therapy

Imaginal Exposure Therapy (IET) is an alternative to exposure and response prevention therapy for patients with severe anxiety. Teenagers unable to jump into real-life situations that trigger their fears may join IET, which may treat the disease via visualisation. In IET, a doctor may ask you to imagine an anxiety-inducing situation so that you may learn management techniques without experiencing the problem in real life. Visualisation over time can desensitise a person to the fear and make him more willing to move on to other therapies, including cognitive behavioural therapy or habitat reversal training.