Agoura Hills, CA – Local teen mental health center, BNI Treatment Centers, recently released a blog about the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). They emphasize the importance of speaking about the subject: “OCD, or obsessive-compulsive disorder, is a serious mental health condition that can be debilitating. And unfortunately, as many as 50% of people who have OCD receive no treatment, in large part due to a lack of education and awareness of this disorder.” BNI Treatment Centers’ blog continues with the intent of combating that statistic and shedding light on the realities of OCD – a condition that also shares many qualities with anxiety, according to the blog.
The first major area of focus is on obsessive and compulsive symptoms of OCD. “These symptoms can appear as intrusive thoughts, images, or urges. These are often accompanied by feelings of anxiety, distress, and a desire to make the thoughts or urges go away,” the blog explains. It says this can lead to teens with OCD acting out, too, and these symptoms can greatly interfere with a teen’s life overall. The article shares that even if people with OCD know their behavior is unreasonable, they can’t stop themselves from doing it – which is where the “compulsive” part of OCD comes from. The blog highlights some of these compulsions, specifically mentioning excessive handwashing, checking locks, or counting repeatedly. “ It can also manifest as obsessions, such as fear of germs, worries about people being hurt, or a desire for symmetry and order,” it adds.
BNI Treatment Centers also takes a moment to clarify the difference between OCD and OCPD – or obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. OCPD doesn’t include OCD’s obsessions and compulsions, and instead centers on personality traits like perfectionism or needing control, according to the blog.
“Unfortunately, there is no simple test for OCD and no one-size-fits-all approach to treatment. It takes a trained medical professional who works with your teen to understand their specific situation and symptoms,” the article admits. They do, however, provide some examples of what a mental health professional might ask in order to make a diagnosis: “Does your teen experience obsessions, compulsions, or both? Does your teen try to ignore or suppress these obsessions? This can manifest as compulsive behavior, attempting to distract from obsessive thoughts with actions. Do these obsessions or compulsions interfere with their life, take up a significant amount of their time, or lead to anxiety and emotional dysfunction?” The blog is also sure to clarify that mental health professionals take a wide variety of factors into account before diagnosing someone with OCD. They’ll consider if the symptoms could be caused by a different condition, or how much of a role the teen’s lifestyle or environment plays in the situation.
The article encourages parents with teens presenting OCD symptoms to seek psychiatric care for them. “When your teen is living with OCD, many parents feel powerless to help, like they have nowhere to turn,” it acknowledges. It concludes with a hopeful message, though: OCD treatment for teens is available, and it’s possible to overcome the condition.
BNI Treatment Centers serves teens in the Los Angeles area. They are psychiatrist-owned and operated, with psychiatric experts closely involved during every stage of adolescents’ treatment. They’re able to diagnose and treat complex conditions and alter treatment and medication regimens as quickly as needed. Their staff is available 24/7 to attend to the needs of adolescents in the program. They keep families involved every step of the way, and have time every day dedicated to teens’ education so they don’t fall behind in school. For more information, visit their website, or call them at (888) 522-1504.
“BNI Treatment Centers: Science-based, evidence-backed, compassion-led.”
###
For more information about BNI Treatment Centers - Lobo, contact the company here:
BNI Treatment Centers - Lobo
Doug Jewell
424-365-1032
doug@bnitreatment.com
30954 Lobo Canyon Rd
Agoura Hills CA 91301
