Obsessions and Compulsions

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a condition that involves obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours. It can affect anybody and can develop at any age, however, it usually occurs during early adulthood.

Getting help early is key and there are several treatment options available to get symptoms under control. On this page, we'll explore obsessions and compulsions in more depth and look into the various treatment options, including how hypnotherapy can provide further support. 

Before we look into getting support for OCD, let’s take a closer look at the condition itself and how it affects people. While the disorder can affect people in different ways, it generally causes the following behaviours:

Obsession

This is when an unwanted thought or urge enters the mind repeatedly. Usually, this thought is distressing, for example, “If I don’t check the light switch X amount of times, my house will catch fire.”

Anxiety

Understandably, such an intrusive and distressing thought leads to feelings of stress and anxiety.

Compulsion

Typically there will then be an urge, or compulsion, to carry out an action. This may be physical (like hand washing) or mental (like counting).  

Temporary relief

Performing this action will temporarily alleviate stress and anxiety. However, obsessive thoughts and anxiety quickly reemerge, restarting the cycle.

Since obsessive-compulsive disorder is an anxiety disorder, addressing anxiety is crucial. A hypnotherapist can assist you in this area. Hypnotherapy promotes relaxation and communicates with your subconscious to alter thought patterns.

Obsessions and compulsions

Many of us experience intrusive thoughts from time to time. When these thoughts become persistent and dominate your thinking, it can become an ‘obsession’.

Those with OCD tend to have upsetting obsessions such as:

• fear of hurting themselves or others (deliberate or accidental)

• fear of being ‘contaminated’ by germs/bacteria

• a fear of becoming unwell or dying (commonly known as ‘health anxiety’)

• a desire for symmetry

The thoughts may be violent or even sexual in nature and can be very stressful for the person affected. Often people with OCD feel that their behaviours need to happen in order to protect someone that they love. 

Compulsions to carry out a certain behaviour is the mind’s way of trying to prevent this anxiety (even if logically the behaviour and thought aren’t linked). The behaviours will differ from person to person but may include:

• cleaning

• counting

• repeating words

• actions

• checking (i.e. checking doors are locked, taps are off)

Someone with OCD will likely be aware that the behaviours are irrational, but the urge to carry them out overwhelms them. As it offers temporary relief from the anxiety they’re feeling, doing it ‘just in case’ or to rid themselves of said anxiety can become the norm.

The symptoms of OCD are intrusive by nature and often impact everyday life. Some people struggle to carry out daily tasks or even leave the house.

Reducing stress and anxiety

Symptoms of OCD are often exacerbated during times of high stress or anxiety. Part of your treatment plan should, therefore, include techniques to help reduce stress and anxiety. This is an area where hypnotherapy can be especially useful.

A hypnotherapist can teach you self-hypnosis techniques to help manage stress and anxiety. This typically involves visualisation and breathing techniques which you can call upon when you need to.

OCD treatment

The two most common courses of treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder are:

• psychological therapy (usually a specialised form of cognitive behavioural therapy, CBT)

• medication (usually selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, SSRIs, to help balance chemicals in the brain)  

Many people find that psychological therapies like CBT help, but may need extra support. There is no ‘quick fix’ for anxiety conditions and there is no guarantee a certain approach will work for you.

If you are keen to explore other approaches alongside those recommended by your doctor, you may want to consider hypnotherapy for OCD.