Option Two: Medication
Medication and cognitive therapy have proven particularly effective when used together. If this is an option for you, we urge you to explore it. Some people, however, for any number of reasons, will choose medication alone. Medication can help reduce anxiety (and, often, depression) tremendously, and has helped many, many people who have OCD to live calmer, happier, and more productive lives.
You might choose a psychiatrist, psycho-pharmacologist, or your family physician, among others. Your decision will probably depend on your health plan (if you have one), your geographical location, the number and kind of doctors available in your area, and so on. The important thing is to get started.
Fact
Increasingly, hypochondria — a morbid fear of, or intense worry about, having or contracting diseases or a specific disease — is seen as a type of OCD. Like many OCD symptoms, it can be treated successfully with medication, CBT, or both. It's believed that as many as 60 percent of doctor visits may be unwarranted.
