Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a condition involving obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. OCD can affect anyone, and can develop at any age, but usually occurs in early adulthood.
OCD symptoms are intrusive by nature, and have an impact on daily life. Early help is essential, and there are several treatment options for controlling symptoms.
Table of contents
Understanding obsessive-compulsive disorder
Although the disorder can affect people in different ways, it generally causes the following behaviors:
Obsession
This is when an unwanted thought or urge enters the mind, repeatedly. The thought is usually an anxious one, for example: "If I don't check the light switch X times, my house will catch fire".
Anxiety
Understandably, such intrusive and distressing thinking leads to feelings of stress and anxiety.
Compulsion
Typically, there will then be an urge, or compulsion, to perform an action. This may be physical, like washing your hands, or mental, like counting.
Temporary relief
Performing this action will temporarily alleviate feelings of stress and anxiety. However, obsessive thoughts and anxiety soon return, and the cycle begins again.
Since OCD is an anxiety disorder, it's essential to tackle anxiety. This is an area where a hypnotherapist can help. Hypnotherapy encourages relaxation and talks to you on a subconscious level to change your thought patterns.
Obsessions and compulsions
Many of us have intrusive thoughts from time to time. However, when these thoughts become persistent and dominate your thinking, it can become an "obsession".
People with OCD tend to have disturbing obsessions such as :
fear of hurting oneself or others, deliberately or accidentally
fear of being "contaminated" by germs and bacteria
fear of not feeling well or of dying, commonly known as "health anxiety
a desire for symmetry and accuracy
The thoughts may be of a violent or even sexual nature, and can be very stressful for the person concerned.
The compulsion to adopt a certain behavior is the mind's way of trying to prevent this anxiety, even though behavior and thought are logically unrelated. Behaviors differ from person to person, but can include :
clean
count
repeat words
repeat actions
verification, i.e. checking that doors are locked and taps are closed
Even though the OCD sufferer is probably aware that his or her behaviors are irrational, the urge to practice them overwhelms him or her. And since practicing them offers temporary relief from the anxiety they feel, doing so "just in case", or to get rid of that anxiety, can then become the norm.
As the condition worsens, it becomes all-consuming, and some people find it hard to perform daily tasks or even leave their homes.
Getting help
If you think you have OCD, your doctor should be your first port of call. Remember that everyone's mental health varies, and many of you need professional support to help you from time to time.
Your doctor will be able to assess you and determine whether or not you are suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder. He or she can then explain the recommended treatments.
OCD symptoms are often exacerbated in times of stress or anxiety. Part of your treatment plan should therefore include techniques to help reduce stress or anxiety. This is an area where hypnosis can be particularly helpful.
Hypnosis for OCD
Hypnosis can be useful for OCD, whether to help overcome the disorder itself or to reduce stress and anxiety.
If you're considering hypnosis and are currently undergoing another psychological treatment, it's imperative to explain this to both your psychotherapist and your hypnotherapist. Between them, they can ensure that you get the most out of each treatment, and that there is no conflicting, or potentially overlapping, content.
Hypnosis works with the unconscious mind, the part we are not aware of, or cannot normally influence. Hypnosis can therefore bring about a change in your thought patterns by working at a deeper level. The aim is to change your way of thinking, to give you back control over your OCD, and to reduce anxiety symptoms.
Some of the techniques used are similar to cognitive-behavioural therapy, but work on an unconscious rather than conscious basis.
As well as providing support in this way, hypnosis for OCD can be a useful way of learning relaxation and self-hypnosis techniques. Our hypnotherapists will offer to teach you self-hypnosis techniques, which you can then separate from your sessions, and apply to your daily life.
Hypnosis isn't guaranteed to work for everyone, but it's a safe and natural approach that many people find useful. When used as a complementary therapy to support you, it can be a useful tool to help overcome mental health problems such as OCD.
