Psychiatric Drug Alternatives for Treating OCD

The first objective of most alternative treatment plans for OCD is to balance serotonin levels in the brain, thus reducing or eliminating symptoms of the disorder. Having proper serotonin levels is absolutely vital to regulating mood, sleep, sex drive, energy, concentration and even appetite.

If you have been recently diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, you may be wondering what your treatment plan will consist of.  Moreover, you may be surprised to know that the plan you are given to treat your disorder depends greatly on where you turn to for help. 

If your first thought is to run to a psychiatrist, you will probably be pushed toward taking a prescription psychiatric drug such as Prozac, or one of the numerous other SSRI drugs.  However, if you want to know what your alternative treatment options are before you commit to taking such a drug, consult your closest Naturopath or alternative healthcare professional. 

The first objective of most alternative treatment plans for OCD is to balance serotonin levels in the brain, thus reducing or eliminating symptoms of the disorder.  Having proper serotonin levels is absolutely vital to regulating mood, sleep, sex drive, energy, concentration and even appetite. 

By regulating serotonin levels naturally, you do not strictly cover or mask symptoms; you get to the root of the problem.  This article will take a look at some of the most common alternative treatments available in the treatment of OCD.

Herbal Remedies

If you have ever suffered from depression, the name St. Johns Wort is probably not new to you.  St. Johns Wort has been studied for years and has proven to be an effective treatment for mild depression and associated behaviors.  It helps prevent the body from using too much serotonin and allows the body to store what it needs to function properly.  The other most commonly used herbs for treating OCD patients is passiflora, valerian, chamomile and lemon balm. 

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Diagnosis Take for example when someone with OCD leaves a room. They cannot simply leave the room and shut the door, they must look back to make sure everything is exactly they way they envision it. The looking back then turns into re-straightening objects, rechecking door locks, and the list goes on. There is no peace of mind, which is ironically exactly what they seek. In many ways, people that suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder are like Feng Shui followers. Childhood Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

 

Music Therapy

Although this is not a highly tested area when it comes to treating obsessive compulsive disorder, music therapy has been shown to be beneficial for some people.  Listening to specific music selections when anxiety levels are high has been proven to help OCD suffers cope with stressful situations. 

Furthermore, learning to play an instrument can also be very relaxing and can definitely distract from the compulsive thoughts that often race through the minds of people with OCD.  Focusing your energy on learning a new skill is an effective way to keep the mind occupied.

Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy works by reaching into your subconscious mind to help you better deal with things that your conscious mind cannot.  Hypnotherapy may take time; however it is well worth looking into.   It has been shown to significantly reduce anxiety, which is often the trigger in obsessive thinking. 

Diet Therapy

Probably the most overlooked form of therapy for treating obsessive compulsive disorder, and many disorders like it is through whole food diet therapy.  A diet rich in tryptophan, the amino acid precursor to serotonin, is essential to maintaining levels of serotonin.  The following foods are rich in this amino acid and should be incorporated into your diet regularly. 

This list includes: oatmeal, rice bran, eggs, cottage and swiss cheeses, blueberries, bananas, and turkey, roast beef, chicken, whole grains, salmon, tofu, brown rice, baked beans, broccoli, avocado, mackerel, potatoes, nuts and sunflower seeds.  It is also advisable that you choose organic, pesticide and hormone free meats and veggies. 

Companion Remedies for Stress, Anxiety, OCD

MindSoothe - Promotes balanced mood and feelings, as well as healthy levels of serotonin and other neurotransmitters
PureCalm - Aids nervous system in stress resistance for balanced moods and feelings of well being
Serenite Plus - Promotes healthy sleep and peaceful nights
Sleep Tonic - Helps maintain a healthy balance of all hormones involved in healthy sleep patterns
Managing Stress & Anxiety - A recent study showed that medical students who learned techniques used in this program significantly reduced stress. And blood samples revealed their immune systems became stronger the more they practiced the techniques!
Mood Tonic - Optimizes nervous system health and promotes balanced mood and peacefulness
Core Inner Strength - Through the focused attention made possible through professional hypnosis, you can begin to see your own worth, and attain your own optimum levels of self-esteem.
Nerve Tonic - Promotes nervous system health, maintains balanced mood and worry-free mind
The Calm Within CD - Offers professional relaxation, visualization and affirmation techniques for self-help and stress reduction
Beyond the Baby Blues - This 2-CD program is designed to lift your spirits, comfort your soul, and create the necessary balance needed while you are adjusting to your new life and new baby.

Obsessive Compulsive Behavior

11/13/2008
Promising clinical trial for patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (News-Medical-Net)
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) affects 2% of the population and is considered a psychiatric disorder. It is the number four psychiatric pathology in terms of frequency following phobias, disorders relating to alcohol and drugs, and depression.

Promising clinical trial for patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (News-Medical-Net)

11/20/2008
Kids' lack of loving home equals disaster (Miami Herald)
Abandonment plus rejection plus low self-esteem equals Teah Wimberly. Depression plus frustration plus loneliness equals Teah Wimberly.

Kids' lack of loving home equals disaster (Miami Herald)

11/12/2008
Brain stimulation may help obsessive disorder (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
Stimulating an area near the base of the brain may help people with otherwise untreatable obsessive-compulsive disorder, researchers reported on Wednesday.

Brain stimulation may help obsessive disorder (Reuters via Yahoo! News)

11/10/2008
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Conference 2008: Taking Action To Tackle Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (Medical News Today)
On Saturday 22nd November, mental health professionals and members of the public who are affected by Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) will all come together for the 2008 OCD Conference at Imperial College London.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Conference 2008: Taking Action To Tackle Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (Medical News Today)

11/18/2008
Top Scoops (Scoop.co.nz)
To gain approval for treating children, all a drug company has to do is submit two positive studies to the FDA to prove a medication is safe and effective for kids.

Top Scoops (Scoop.co.nz)

11/18/2008
Brain Abnormalities That May Play Key Role In ADHD Revealed By Novel Imaging Technique (Medical News Today)
A study published in the online advance edition of The American Journal of Psychiatry for the first time reveals shape differences in the brains of children with ADHD, which could help pinpoint the specific neural circuits involved in the disorder. Researchers from the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, Md.

Brain Abnormalities That May Play Key Role In ADHD Revealed By Novel Imaging Technique (Medical News Today)

11/19/2008
Levine: Love is more than just science (Yale Daily News)
As a scientist, I am, at times, guilty of aggressive empiricism — the notion that truths can only be learned (inasmuch as there are truths to be learned) through observation of the world. Anyone who claims to be finding truth any other way is wrong, wrong, wrong.

Levine: Love is more than just science (Yale Daily News)