What Holistic Approaches Aid Long-Term Healing From OCD?
The iconic yogi and spiritual leader B.K.S. Iyengar once famously said, “As animals, we walk the earth. Then, as bearers of divine essence, we are among the stars. Finally, as human beings, we are caught in the middle, seeking to reconcile the paradox of how to make our way upon earth while striving for something more permanent and more profound.” This is the essence of the holistic approach to recovery. Also, this is the essence of what the holistic approach to healing from OCD is all about.
The Prevalence of Mental Illness in the U.S.
Mental illness remains a serious and prevalent problem in the U.S. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), “It is estimated that more than one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness (57.8 million in 2021). Mental illnesses include many different conditions that vary in degree of severity, ranging from mild to moderate to severe. Two broad categories can be used to describe these conditions: Any Mental Illness (AMI) and Serious Mental Illness (SMI).” Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) lives on the SMI side of the spectrum.
Many people who struggle with OCD also struggle with other issues. Often, these co-occurring issues involve addiction disorders like alcohol use disorder (AUD) and/or substance use disorder (SUD).
The Prevalence of Co-Occurring Disorders in the U.S.
Co-occurring disorders (also commonly referred to as comorbidities) are more common than many people may like to think. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “7.7 million adults have co-occurring mental and substance use disorders… Of the 20.3 million adults with substance use disorders, 37.9% also had mental illnesses. Among the 42.1 million adults with mental illness, 18.2% also had substance use disorders.”
These statistics also include individuals struggling with OCD. Yet, many people are unfamiliar with what exactly OCD is.
Better Understanding OCD
When it comes to mental illness, OCD affects a relatively high amount of individuals. According to the peer-reviewed thesis, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, by Doctors Brock, Rizvi, and Hany, “Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a prevalent psychiatric disorder affecting 1% to 3% of the global population, characterized by intrusive thoughts, known as obsessions, and repetitive actions, or compulsions. These symptoms affect patients not only by consuming a significant portion of their time but also by causing marked distress and functional impairment. The complex etiology of OCD involves cognitive, genetic, and neural factors, making the condition’s diagnosis challenging and necessitating the exclusion of other psychiatric conditions that present similarly.”
OCD also represents a broader spectrum of disorders. According to the peer-reviewed journal Nature Reviews, Disease Primers, “Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a highly prevalent and chronic condition that is associated with substantial global disability. OCD is the key example of the ‘obsessive-compulsive and related disorders’, a group of conditions which are now classified together in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, and the International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision, and which are often underdiagnosed and undertreated. In addition, OCD is an important example of a neuropsychiatric disorder in which rigorous research on phenomenology, psychobiology, pharmacotherapy, and psychotherapy has contributed to better recognition, assessment, and outcomes.” OCD also has a distinct set of signs and symptoms.
The Signs and Symptoms of OCD
While, of course, the signs and symptoms of OCD will vary depending on many individual circumstances, there are signs and symptoms that are more universal. The following are just a few of those signs and symptoms:
- Having a fear of germs and “germ contamination”
- Isolating away from friends and family
- Losing interest in activities once enjoyed
- Having a fear of “losing control” of one’s behaviors
- A change in appetite and having “food rituals”
- Having issues with sleep cycles, including sleeping too much and not sleeping enough (insomnia)
- Excessively washing one’s hands
- Experiencing “compulsive counting”
- Exhibiting excessive mood swings
- Having to arrange things a certain way
- Feeling excessively anxious or “stressed out”
- Experiencing feelings of depression
- Having “racing thoughts”
- Experiencing feelings of self-harm or suicidal ideations
As one can see, these signs and symptoms can be significantly severe. This is why if any, many, or all of these symptoms are present, it is critical that professional help be sought as soon as possible. Seeking professional help sooner than later can mean the difference between short-term side effects and long-term consequences. It can mean the difference between a mental health relapse and healing at the cellular level.
Healing From OCD at the Cellular Level
When it comes to healing from OCD at the cellular level, it is all about healing the “interconnectedness” of the mind, spirit, and body. This means healing physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
Healing from OCD at the cellular level is also about addressing all of the underlying issues that are the causes of OCD. It is important to remember that mental health issues like OCD are rarely just surface-level. For example, many people with mental health issues have underlying root/core causes of trauma.
Trauma affects millions of people in the U.S. and around the world. Yet, many people are unfamiliar with the specifics of trauma. According to the peer-reviewed journal Psychological Medicine, “The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) defines a traumatic event (TE) as exposure to threatened death, serious injury or sexual violence. Such exposure may occur directly or indirectly by witnessing the event, learning of the event occurring to a loved one, or repeated confrontation with aversive details of such event (e.g. emergency responders). Exposure to TEs is a prerequisite for the diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and is also associated with a wide range of other adverse mental and physical health outcomes.”
PTSD is also a common underlying issue that must be addressed if one also has OCD. It is also more common than many people think. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the National Center for PTSD, “Most of us will experience at least one trauma in our lifetime that could lead to PTSD. There are factors that put you at risk of experiencing a trauma, many of which are not under your control.” Also, “About 6 out of every 100 people (or 6% of the U.S. population) will have PTSD at some point in their lives.” To address OCD and any underlying issues that exist, it is important to take a multi-angled approach to recovery.
Healing From OCD via the Multi-Angled Approach
The multi-angled approach to recovery is all about utilizing as many means, methods, and modalities for recovery as possible. This includes psychotherapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), experiential therapies like nature immersion therapy and surf therapy, and holistic healing methods like yoga and meditation.
While experiential therapies and holistic methods can be crucial for recovery, it is often recommended that effective evidence-based therapies like CBT make up the foundation of a multi-angled recovery plan. This therapy can be particularly helpful because it addresses the underlying way in which one negatively views oneself and the world around them.
CBT can also be highly effective because it ensures that the individual engages fully with their recovery, as well as focuses on “symptom reduction.” According to the peer-reviewed journal Cognitive Therapy and Research, “Consistent with the medical model of psychiatry, the overall goal of treatment is symptom reduction, improvement in functioning, and remission of the disorder. In order to achieve this goal, the patient becomes an active participant in a collaborative problem-solving process to test and challenge the validity of maladaptive cognitions and to modify maladaptive behavioral patterns… Although these strategies greatly emphasize cognitive factors, physiological, emotional, and behavioral components are also recognized for the role that they play in the maintenance of the disorder.”
Once an evidence-based modality like CBT is in place, then other holistic modalities can be much more effective. These are modalities like massage, reiki, yoga, and meditation.
What Holistic Approaches Aid Long-Term Healing From OCD?
The Hamakua Coast of Hawaii’s Big Island offers many unique opportunities to recover. For example, being surrounded by the beautiful Pacific Ocean allows for the incredibly effective therapy of surf therapy.
Surf therapy can offer many benefits for healing from OCD. According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, “Carefully planned water activities tailored to the needs of the individual can contribute to correct psychosocial and cognitive development. The International Surf Therapy Organization summarizes the benefits of adequately indicated surf therapy as follows: improved physical health and mobility; improved mental health, including reduction of specific symptoms, such as posttraumatic stress and depression; improved well-being (strengthening of trust and confidence, encouragement of independence, resilience and protective coping strategies) and improved social skills.”
Of course, surf therapy is not considered a specific holistic therapy, but it certainly has holistic opportunities and properties. For example, one can meditate while waiting for the next right wave. This meditation can also happen with something known as horticulture therapy.
Horticulture therapy offers a myriad of benefits that can help in the healing of OCD. According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, “People’s interactions with plants, through goal-orientated horticultural activities in the form of active gardening, as well as the passive appreciation of nature, could be therapeutic to people with mental disorders in many ways. First, horticulture could have emotional benefits, such as reducing stress, reducing psychiatric symptoms, stabilizing mood, and increasing the sense of tranquility, spirituality, and enjoyment. Second, it could help people to reduce fatigue and restore attention and cognitive ability.” Horticulture therapy is also complementary to holistic methods for recovery, such as massage.
Healing From OCD With Massage
Professionals are constantly looking for new, healthier recovery options for treating issues of addiction and mental illnesses like OCD. Massage is one of those newly studied recovery options.
Alternative therapies like massage can be crucial for healing at the cellular level. According to Focus: The Journal of Life Long Learning in Psychiatry, “[T]here is an interface between psychiatric disorders and complementary and alternative therapies such as massage. Accordingly, validated alternative therapies are now being integrated within the medical mainstream under the rubric ‘complementary and integrative medicine’ (CIM)… Psychiatric disorders are common and disabling, and current treatment methods, although helpful for many, are not the treatment of choice for many patients and are insufficient to alleviate disability and suffering for many others.” Another highly beneficial holistic approach to recovery is reiki.
Healing From OCD With Reiki
Reiki is all about guiding and channeling the energy inside oneself for more positive output. According to the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Psychology, “Reiki is an energy healing technique or biofield therapy in which an attuned therapist places their hands on or near the client’s body and sends energy to the client to activate the body’s ability to heal itself and restore balance. It was developed in Japan at the end of the 19th century by Mikao Usui of Kyoto… Reiki is safe and inexpensive, and preliminary research suggests it may assist in treating a wide variety of illnesses.”
Reiki has also been shown to be highly effective at helping individuals who are trying to recover from issues of addiction and mental illness. This has been shown in numerous studies. According to the Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine, “Reiki is better than placebo in activating the parasympathetic nervous system, as measured by reduced heart rate, reduced blood pressure, and increased heart rate variability. For patients with chronic health conditions, Reiki has been found to be more effective than placebo for reducing pain, anxiety, and depression, and for improving self-esteem and quality of life.” Another highly effective modality is yoga therapy.
Healing From OCD With Yoga
B.K.S. Iyengar also famously said, “We must create a marriage between the awareness of the body and that of the mind. When two parties do not cooperate, there is unhappiness on both sides.” This marriage occurs via the practice of yoga and, specifically, yoga therapy for healing OCD.
Yoga has been practiced for thousands of years. Originally, it was utilized solely as a religious and/or spiritual practice, but it has since moved into the realm of recovery.
The benefits of yoga therapy for healing OCD are vast and varied. According to the International Journal of Yoga (IJOY), “Currently, treatment for anxiety and depression involves mostly psychological and pharmacological interventions; however, mind-body interventions are becoming increasingly popular as a means to reduce stress in individuals… Yoga should be considered as a complementary therapy or alternative method for medical therapy in the treatment of stress, anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders as it has been shown to create a greater sense of well-being, increase feelings of relaxation, improve self-confidence and body image, improve efficiency, better interpersonal relationships, increase attentiveness, lower irritability, and encourage an optimistic outlook on life.”
Healing From OCD With Meditation
Meditation is probably the most important type of holistic healing method because it permeates all of the other modalities (nature immersion therapy, surf therapy, reiki, massage, yoga, etc.). This includes meditation for healing from OCD.
The benefits of meditation can be hard to quantify because they can be so individualized. However, the more universal benefits of meditation have been well recorded. According to the International Quarterly Journal of Research in Ayurveda (AYU), “During the process of meditation, accumulated stresses are removed, energy is increased, and health is positively affected overall. Research has confirmed a myriad of health benefits associated with the practice of meditation. These include stress reduction, decreased anxiety, decreased depression, reduction in pain (both physical and psychological), improved memory, and increased efficiency.”
Healing at the Cellular Level With Exclusive Hawaii Rehab
B.K.S. Iyengar also said, “The union of nature and soul removes the veil of ignorance that covers our intelligence.” This “unveiling is also what must occur to heal at the cellular level from OCD.
Here at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, we believe in long-term success over short-term “fixes.” This is why we only offer individualized and comprehensive recovery plans with a focus on the future.
Life is about the journey, never the destination, and OCD can negatively interrupt that journey. But this does not have to be the norm. There is a solution. Recovery is possible on the Hamakua Coast of Hawaii’s Big Island. The key is to take action and go after it.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental illness that affects millions of people in the U.S. every year. It can also be highly damaging and destructive to everyone involved. The good news is that recovery from OCD is possible when the right means, methods, and modalities are utilized. If you feel like you or a loved one are struggling with issues of mental illness, addiction, or both, we can help get you on the right road to long-term recovery right away. You don’t have to go through this process alone. For more information about effective ways to treat and recover from OCD, please reach out to Exclusive Hawaii Rehab today at (808) 775-0200.