Living with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can be an exhausting and distressing experience. As a condition affecting approximately 1-2% of Canadians, OCD creates significant challenges through unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviours or mental acts (compulsions) that individuals feel driven to perform.
OCD manifests differently in each person, but the core experience involves intrusive thoughts that cause anxiety, followed by compulsive behaviours aimed at reducing this distress. These cycles can consume hours each day, significantly impacting quality of life and daily functioning.
Some common challenges faced by people with OCD include:
- Persistent intrusive thoughts that cause extreme anxiety
- Time-consuming compulsive rituals that interfere with daily activities
- Significant distress when unable to complete compulsions
- Difficulty concentrating due to intrusive thoughts
- Sleep disturbances related to anxiety and rumination
- Social isolation due to embarrassment about symptoms
- Relationship strain from accommodation of rituals
- Co-occurring anxiety, depression, or other mental health conditions
Traditional treatments typically involve cognitive-behavioural therapy (particularly Exposure and Response Prevention), medication (usually SSRIs), or a combination of both. However, these approaches don’t work optimally for everyone—studies suggest 30-40% of individuals with OCD don’t respond adequately to standard treatments. This reality has led many Canadians to explore alternative or complementary options, including medical cannabis.