Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, also known as OCD, is a form of anxiety. An obsession is an anxiety-provoking thought. Often, though not always, a compulsion follows these anxiety-provoking thoughts. These compulsions are actions that are done in an attempt to stop the obsession coming true. So, we might repeatedly check an electrical appliance is turned off because we have the thought 'If I didn't turn it off and I don't check it, the house might burn down".
In certain cases of OCD compulsions are totally absent and only obsessions are present. This has been called "Pure O" by some. Pure O is often called "intrusive thoughts" and involves having frightening, shameful, or strange thoughts that we don't want to have and fear might come true.
In certain cases of OCD compulsions are totally absent and only obsessions are present. This has been called "Pure O" by some. Pure O is often called "intrusive thoughts" and involves having frightening, shameful, or strange thoughts that we don't want to have and fear might come true.
Signs of OCD
The signs of OCD are wide-ranging, but may include the following:
Sensations Tension Sleep Disturbance Panic Attacks Restlessness Zoning Out | Emotions Fear Concern Anxiety Worry Panic Numb | Behaviours Repeated worrying. Ritualised patterns of behaviour. Complex routines, done, for example, before leaving the house or going to bed. Repeated checking. Putting things is specific orders. Hoarding | Thoughts "Something terrible is going to happen." "If I don't do X, something bad might happen." "I'm going to do something terrible." "My bad thoughts are going to come true." "If something bad happens, it will be my fault." |
Types of OCD
OCD generally includes things like ritualistic behaviours and repeated thoughts or obsession. However, OCD can present in many different ways. OCD is NOT just about being clean, though this can be part of OCD. OCD can include any of the following.
- Washing and Cleaning: This can include avoiding touching things for fear of contamination or germs. It can also include hand washing, taking long showers, or repeatedly cleaning household items.
- Checking and Repeating: This involves worrying that something bad will happen if certain checks are not done. Checks are often repeated so much that other daily tasks don't get done. Such checks can include repeatedly checking to see if electrical appliances are turned off or returning home to check the house door is locked. Other checks can include such things as needing to drive back to a certain place in order to make sure you have not knocked someone over.
- Ordering: This can include making sure things are in a specific order or in the right place. This can include making sure the bed is made in a specific way, or that items are put into specific patterns. When these orders are changed by someone else, this can cause a lot of anxiety or even a panic attack.
- Hoarding can mean being unable to throw things away without experiencing high degrees of anxiety. Anxiety can also result from people touching these possessions. Behaviours may include bringing home seemingly useless things and then being unable to throw them away.
- Thinking Rituals: These rituals of thought can include things like repeating certain numbers or words over and over. It can also include repeating prayers for non-religious reasons. This can involve saying the same thing over and over in order to feel safe. Here, there is a fear of "bad" thoughts, and an attempt to only think "good" thoughts or to block that bad thoughts out.
- Obsessions: Obsessions involve feeling anxious about negative thoughts that uncontrollably arise in the mind. There is usually the belief that these thoughts are uncontrollable. The fear is that such bad thoughts might come true. Such thoughts can be frightening, shameful, violent, or weird.
A person struggling with OCD might experience one or more of the above types of OCD at any one time.
Causes of OCD
There is some suggestion that OCD can be caused by a combination of genetics, neurological development, and life events. It is not uncommon for OCD to begin in early adolescence, when neurological development is high. Life events such as bereavements, losses, or experiencing a traumatic event can cause OCD to develop, though this may be delayed and only begin months or even years later. In short, there may be a genetic predisposition towards OCD in the person, which is then triggered by life events.
It is not your fault that you have OCD.
It is not your fault that you have OCD.
Recovering from OCD
The recommended treatment for OCD is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or more specifically, a behavioural approach to managing OCD. A trained therapist can help you put together a safe, and achievable program to help you tackle your OCD. However, it can also be an enormous help to be able to just talk about anxiety and worries within a non-judgemental and support counselling relationship. Often a combination of both talking and CBT works well for many people.
In my personal experience it is important to state that recovery from OCD is possible. For many, recovery from OCD can feel impossible, but as a practising therapist I have witnessed many people fully recover. This can be a difficult, and sometimes scary process, but it can be achieved in a safe and therapeutic way when explored with a qualified counsellor / psychotherapist.
In my personal experience it is important to state that recovery from OCD is possible. For many, recovery from OCD can feel impossible, but as a practising therapist I have witnessed many people fully recover. This can be a difficult, and sometimes scary process, but it can be achieved in a safe and therapeutic way when explored with a qualified counsellor / psychotherapist.
What Next?
If you feel you might be struggling with OCD and wish to seek treatment, it is highly recommended to seek out a counsellor/psychotherapist. It is often recommended that this therapist be able to offer CBT. If you live in Bristol please feel free to visit my contacts page to set up an initial appointment session with me, as I am trained in CBT and have worked with OCD and Pure O in the past. To find a counsellor in others areas of the UK, please visit here. Outside the UK you might consider visiting your local doctor to see what mental health assistance is available in your area. I also have limited availability to do therapy sessions over the phone.
Again, please remember that recovery from OCD is possible, and research shows that counselling and psychotherapy can help.
OCD is not a life-sentence, but a form of anxiety that can be managed and healed.
Again, please remember that recovery from OCD is possible, and research shows that counselling and psychotherapy can help.
OCD is not a life-sentence, but a form of anxiety that can be managed and healed.
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