What to do if therapy and medication are not enough

Unfortunately, some sufferers try therapy, mindfulness practices and medication without feeling as if their OCD is subsiding. If you are one of these people, do not get down on yourself. OCD is a complex and powerful disorder that affects every person differently. Do not give up on your fight to lead a better life. Alternative treatments, though less common, do exist. A few are:

• Deep brain stimulation: Scientists have identified pleasure centers in the brain. When we experience something good, this part is activated. Deep brain stimulation is the process of implanting electrodes in the brain stem of a sufferer, and sending impulses to their pleasure centers in order to create a “feel good” experience.
• Gamma Knife Treatment: A single gamma ray will do nothing to a person’s brain. However, intersecting gamma rays can be powerful. In this procedure, multiple gamma rays pass through a person’s skull with the intention of intersecting and eliminating a targeted portion of brain tissue that is responsible for extreme anxiety.
• Single-ectomy: In this procedure, doctors look for the anxiety center of a person’s brain, and separate it from the rest of the brain’s functioning.
• St. John’s Wort: One of the most popular herbal remedies for anxiety is a flowering plant known as St. John’s Wort. The herb is believed to have natural antidepressant and anti-inflammatory qualities.