O.C.D
Counselling To Help With Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Its normal, on occasion, to go back and double-check that the iron is unplugged or you locked the back door. However if you suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours become so excessive they interfere with your daily life. No matter what you do, you can’t seem to shake them
What is obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by uncontrollable, unwanted thoughts and repetitive, ritualized behaviours you feel compelled to perform.
If you have OCD, you probably recognize that your obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours are irrational but even so, you feel unable to resist them and break free.
Like a needle getting stuck on an old record, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) causes the brain to get stuck on a particular thought or urge.
For example, you may check the cooker twenty times to make sure its really turned off, wash your hands until they’re scrubbed raw or other similar behaviours.
Understanding OCD obsessions and compulsions
Obsessions are involuntary, seemingly uncontrollable thoughts, images, or impulses that occur over and over again in the conscious mind. You dont want to have these ideas but you cant stop them. Unfortunately, these obsessive thoughts are often disturbing and distracting.
Compulsions are behaviours or rituals that you feel driven to act out again and again. Usually, compulsions are performed in an attempt to make obsessions go away.
For example, if you’re afraid of contamination, you might develop elaborate cleaning rituals. However, the relief never lasts. In fact, the obsessive thoughts usually come back stronger. And the compulsive behaviours often end up causing anxiety they as they become more demanding and time-consuming.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
People with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) fall into one of the following categories:
- Washers are afraid of contamination. They usually have cleaning or hand-washing compulsions.
- Checkers repeatedly check things (oven turned off, door locked, etc.) that they associate with harm or danger.
- Doubters and sinners are afraid that if everything isnt perfect or done just right something terrible will happen or they will be punished.
- Counters and arrangers are obsessed with order and symmetry. They may have superstitions about certain numbers, colours, or arrangements.
- Hoarders fear that something bad will happen if they throw anything away. They compulsively hoard things that they dont need or use.
Just because you have obsessive thoughts or perform compulsive behaviours does NOT mean that you have obsessive-compulsive disorder. With OCD, these thoughts and behaviours cause tremendous distress, take up a lot of time, and interfere with your daily life and relationships.
Signs & Symptoms Of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Most people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have both obsessions and compulsions, but some people experience just one or the other.
OCD signs and symptoms: Obsessive thoughts
Common obsessive thoughts in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) include:
- Fear of being contaminated by germs or dirt or contaminating others.
- Fear of causing harm to yourself or others.
- Intrusive sexually explicit or violent thoughts and images.
- Excessive focus on religious or moral ideas.
- Fear of losing or not having things you might need.
- Order and symmetry: the idea that everything must line up just right.
- Superstitions – excessive attention to something considered lucky or unlucky.
OCD Signs And Symptoms: Compulsive Behaviours
Common compulsive behaviours in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) include:
- Excessive double-checking of things, such as locks, appliances, and switches.
- Repeatedly checking in on loved ones to make sure they’re safe.
- Counting, tapping, repeating certain words, or doing other senseless things to reduce anxiety.
- Spending a lot of time washing or cleaning.
- Ordering or arranging things just so.
- Praying excessively or engaging in rituals triggered by religious fear.
- Accumulating junk such as old newspapers or empty food containers.
Counselling As Treatment For OCD
I use a combination of therapies to help individuals with O, C, D. Cognitive-behavioural therapy along with hypnotherapy and self-help strategies, you can break free of the unwanted thoughts and irrational urges and take back control of your life.
While many medical professions suggest Antidepressants to deal with the anxiety and stress caused by the O, C, D. Therapy allows you to uncover the origins of the causes and supports the individual in change teaching healthy and effective ways of responding to obsessive thoughts without the compulsive behaviours Contact me
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