Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment Options

​Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition that significantly disrupts the lives of those who suffer from it. An anxiety disorder leads to persistent or intrusive thoughts, resulting in repetitive behaviors that can vary from mild to severe.

Common behaviours can include intrusive and recurrent thoughts, ideas or impulses, and they can be worrying, repulsive, obscene or blasphemous. Compulsions are actions an individual feels compelled to perform to reduce the anxiety they feel from an obsession. They are repeated continuously and often carried out without conscious thought. Examples of compulsions include excessive washing and cleaning, counting and touching things, hoarding, incessant rechecking, repeating certain words or phrases and performing ritualistic behaviour.

This feeling of unsafety can manifest in numerous ways, such as exposure to traumatic events, ongoing stressors in daily life, or even societal pressures that contribute to a feeling of vulnerability. As human beings, we have a subconscious mind that functions as an inner protector, designed to safeguard us from perceived threats and dangers. When this protective mechanism senses instability or danger, it may react by generating feelings of anxiety. In the context of OCD, this anxiety can become particularly pronounced. The unconscious mind, interpreting various stimuli as potential threats, may trigger obsessive thoughts—persistent and intrusive ideas that cause significant distress. These obsessions often lead to compulsions, which are repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed in an attempt to alleviate the anxiety provoked by the obsessions. This cycle of obsession and compulsion can become a way for individuals to cope with their fears, albeit an unhealthy one. The compulsive behaviors provide a temporary sense of relief, reinforcing the cycle and making it difficult for individuals to break free from the grip of OCD. Thus, what begins as an instinctual response to protect oneself can evolve into a debilitating disorder that impacts daily functioning and quality of life. Understanding this intricate relationship between perception, the unconscious mind, and anxiety is crucial for developing effective therapeutic approaches to help individuals manage and overcome OCD. Cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and exposure therapy are some of the strategies that can assist in addressing these underlying issues and fostering a sense of safety.

Hypnotherapy and OCD

Therapies that involve talking are immensely effective in reducing anxiety and helping you to change your mindset and thought processes. These are crucial to coping with, reducing and sometimes eliminating OCD obsessions and compulsions. As a talking therapy, hypnotherapy is one of the most powerful and effective available. Cognitive therapy is a structured therapy that aims to help individuals gain a deeper understanding of their specific triggers, which are often the root causes of their obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. Identifying these triggers, individuals can begin to recognise the patterns that lead to their distress and learn how to manage their responses. The therapy focuses on replacing obsessive coping strategies that may have developed over time with healthier, more constructive methods of dealing with anxiety and discomfort. This process is essential for encouraging resilience and promoting long-term recovery.