Symptoms of OCD typically follow a chronic waxing and waning course over time, with flare-ups emerging during periods of increased stress.
Feeling intense stress and anxiety when things are not in a specific order. Worries about losing control over yourself and engaging in violent behaviors toward others or yourself. Unwanted thoughts and mental images, usually around taboo subjects, like aggression, sexuality, or religion.
Speaking from experience, I would say that the average uncomplicated case of OCD takes from about six to twelve months to be successfully completed. If symptoms are severe, if the person works at a slow pace, or if other problems are also present, it can take longer.
Obsessive-compulsive symptoms generally wax and wane over time. Because of this, many individuals diagnosed with OCD may suspect that their OCD comes and goes or even goes away—only to return. However, as mentioned above, obsessive-compulsive traits never truly go away. Instead, they require ongoing management.
However, there isn't a full-on cure for your condition. You become better equipped to manage your symptoms and keep intrusive thoughts at bay. However, even if you aren't going through professional treatments to learn how to cope, your OCD can still feel like it goes through regular cycles.
Background. Although obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is one of the most common mental disorders, it takes up to 17 years for patients with OCD to receive adequate therapy.
OCD , usually considered a lifelong disorder, can have mild to moderate symptoms or be so severe and time-consuming that it becomes disabling.
OCD has peaks of onset at two different life phases: pre-adolescence and early adulthood. Around the ages of 10 to 12 years, the first peak of OCD cases occur. This time frequently coincides with increasing school and performance pressures, in addition to biologic changes of brain and body that accompany puberty.
OCD symptoms have been known to intensify over time, begging the question: What causes OCD to get worse? The short answer is comorbidities. These are mental health conditions that trigger and aggravate OCD symptoms. Research¹ shows that most people with OCD struggle with some other type of mental health condition.
Symptoms of OCD may come and go, ease over time, or worsen. People with OCD may try to help themselves by avoiding situations that trigger their obsessions, or they may use alcohol or drugs to calm themselves.
If you have OCD, you can undoubtedly live a normal and productive life. Like any chronic illness, managing your OCD requires a focus on day-to-day coping rather than on an ultimate cure.
At its most severe, however, OCD can impact someone's ability to work, go to school, run errands, or even care for themselves. People with severe OCD have obsessions with cleanliness and germs — washing their hands, taking showers, or cleaning their homes for hours a day.
OCD is a lifelong condition that can ruin your life if it remains untreated. It cannot be cured; however, it can be managed with a combination of medication and therapy. Most people with OCD can learn to handle their symptoms and function better in society and relationships.
OCD Prognosis and Outlook
However, with proper treatment, 10% of people with OCD experience full recovery and 50% experience a marked improvement in symptoms. For those with mild OCD symptoms or those who are averse to taking medicine, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been shown to help reduce symptoms.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a chronic condition. This means it won't fix itself and is generally not cured completely. So to the first question: OCD does not go away on its own, without treatment.
There is no cure, unfortunately, but many people with OCD are able to get substantial control over their symptoms with proper treatment.
The main reason that compulsions seem so hard to stop is because you have rehearsed them so often that they have become very automatic habits that are easy to do without thinking. You get good at things you rehearse a lot.
Some patients are able to stop their medications after a 6 to 12-month treatment period. It does appear that over half of OCD patients (and maybe many more) will need to be on at least a low dose of medication for years, perhaps even for life.
Over time, OCD obsessions and compulsions often become more severe, more time-consuming, and harder to overcome without professional help. While it may be possible for people with mild forms of OCD to use self-help resources to overcome OCD, most people need therapy (and sometimes medication) to manage their symptoms.
Life after beginning to effectively manage OCD provides new learnings, feelings, experiences, and opportunities. You appreciate the things OCD once took away from you much more, so they can bring you greater levels of joy than they did even before OCD surfaced.