Is There a Known Cure for OCD

Is There a Known Cure for OCD OCD Living With OCD Print Is There a Known Cure for OCD? By Owen Kelly, PhD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on August 05, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on August 15, 2019 Tetra Images/Getty Images More in OCD Living With OCD Causes Symptoms and Diagnosis Treatment Types Related Conditions As with all forms of mental illness, there is no known OCD cure. While medication can reduce or even eliminate the symptoms of OCD if you stop taking the drug it is likely that your symptoms will return. Likewise, while psychotherapy can be very effective, if you stop using the techniques you have learned your symptoms may worsen again. Coping With a Chronic Illness As such, OCD is generally thought of as a chronic illness,  meaning that much like diabetes or epilepsy, it is something you will have to work on managing every day. Although it can initially be difficult to accept, having a chronic illness like OCD requires you to shift your focus from a final OCD cure to managing and coping with symptoms.? Coping With Stress When You Have OCD Treatment to Manage Symptoms The good news is that there are effective treatments available, and while every treatment does not work for every person, most people can get significant relief of their symptoms using a combination of medication(s) and/or psychotherapy. For people who are unable to find relief using standard treatments, new therapies in the form of deep brain stimulation are on the horizon. There are also a number of helpful strategies that you can use to cope with OCD. Options for OCD Treatment A Word From Verywell Although it can be frustrating to realize that there is currently no OCD cure, it may be helpful to think about the way you relate to your symptoms. Although unpleasant, anxiety is a very necessary part of life â€" it can help keep us safe and make us motivated to take action when there is a problem. Indeed, living a life free from anxiety is unrealistic and, in fact, would probably be a little boring. The more you can learn to accept and integrate anxiety into your life, while at the same time learning new skills to deal with anxiety other than with compulsions, the easier it will be to cope with it. The 9 Best Online Therapy Programs