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About OCD
An estimated 2-3 million American adults and 500,00 youth suffer from OCD. This mental health condition can affect your functioning at work, school, and daily activities. Fortunately, Emem Nkanga, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, and the team at Mindful Solutions Psychiatry in Garland, Texas, offer OCD care to patients aged ten and older. If you or a family member is experiencing repetitive thoughts or behaviors and would benefit from treatment, call the office today or book an appointment online.
OCD Q & A
What is OCD?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic mental health condition that provokes you to repeat behaviors or sensations. These repetitions make you feel you’re alleviating unwanted thoughts, anxieties, or mental images.
Around 50% of people with OCD begin to show symptoms in childhood and adolescence, and the condition benefits from diagnosis and treatment when signs first arise.
What are the symptoms of OCD?
OCD includes both obsession and compulsion symptoms.
OCD obsessions
Obsessions may manifest as mental images or thoughts you have trouble controlling, such as:
- Fear of germs
- Fear of risk or making a mistake
- Feeling doubtful
- Unwanted sexual thoughts
- Anxiety over dying
- Fear of harming yourself or others
- Obsessing over organization or perfection
- Anxiety around losing something
You may also feel a constant need for reassurance, order, or neatness.
OCD compulsions
You may enact compulsive behaviors such as:
- Checking things repeatedly
- Cleaning yourself or washing your hands repeatedly
- Hoarding items of no value
- Arranging things specifically
- Rituals related to numbers
- Doing a behavior a specific number of times
- Repeating phrases
- Seeking repeated validation
- Arranging things in a specific way
- Avoiding situations that trigger obsessions (shaking hands, touching surfaces)
These tasks may feel urgent, even if you don’t find pleasure or logic in acting out the behaviors. Obsessions and compulsions can also evolve over time.
What are my OCD treatment options?
At Mindful Solutions Psychiatry, treatment for OCD begins with a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation. Your provider will assess your symptoms and how they affect your daily life, including school, work, relationships, and personal goals. Based on this evaluation, a personalized treatment plan is developed to support symptom improvement and long-term stability.
Medication Management & GeneSight Testing
Medications are often an important part of OCD treatment. Common options include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and other serotonin-related medications that help reduce obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors over time.
Because finding the right medication can take time, we offer GeneSight® testing, which helps guide medication selection based on your genetic profile. This can help:
- Improve medication effectiveness
- Reduce trial-and-error prescribing
- Minimize unwanted side effects
Your provider will explain all treatment options, discuss possible side effects, and closely monitor your progress to adjust medications as needed.
Supportive Care & Therapy Referrals
While we do not provide psychotherapy services in-house, your provider may recommend evidence-based therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), which are commonly used in OCD treatment.
If appropriate, we can also provide referrals to qualified therapists who specialize in these approaches to ensure you receive comprehensive care.
In addition, supportive lifestyle strategies may be encouraged, such as:
- Stress management techniques
- Regular sleep routines
- Healthy diet and exercise habits
- Structured daily routines
Get Started Today
If you or a loved one is struggling with OCD, compassionate and personalized psychiatric care is available. Contact Mindful Solutions Psychiatry today to schedule a consultation or book an appointment online.