Home treatment is just as important as the treatment you will receive in your doctor’s office. For patients who have been diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, or OCD, following an established, consistent home treatment plan can make the road to a more normal life less bumpy and more enjoyable.

Follow a Routine

Many people diagnosed with OCD tend to have a compulsion for cleanliness and order. But these patients can help to better their home treatment by establishing a routine and following a consistent treatment schedule each day. Taking care of yourself daily is the best thing you can do when you have OCD or another anxiety disorder. You should begin by taking any prescription medications your doctor has prescribed exactly when the doctor recommends. Take the right dosage and set up a specific time each day to take the medicine so you do not forget. You can also place the medication in a special pill pack so you can remember to take it more easily.

It is equally important to do any homework your doctor or therapist has given you to do outside the office. While you will have the continued guidance of your therapist in her office, it is just as important to try to push yourself at home. If you push yourself a little each day, you will make progress more quickly. This kind of at-home therapy can include self-directed exposure and response prevention exercises. These exercises involve exposing yourself to an obsession. You may think about this obsession constantly or worry without reason. For example, you would expose yourself to something you might ordinarily avoid for fear of catching germs or getting contaminated. Then, instead of performing the compulsive ritual you feel you must do after exposure, you deny yourself that ritual. This may be a tough task at first, and you may wish to have family or loved ones involved in helping you. However, this type of therapy can be very effective in home treatment for OCD.

Also, practicing stress relieving routines like deep breathing, taking warm baths, or getting a soothing massage can help to ease the symptoms of OCD. Since these symptoms may be provoked in a stressful environment, doing as much as you can to make your environment more peaceful can help you to deal with your disorder more effectively.

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