OCD

It's thought that up to three in 100 adults are affected by the anxiety disorder OCD.  Most people find that their symptoms begin in their early 20s but up to four in 100 children may have symptoms of OCD.

 

About OCD

 

If you have OCD, you will have obsessions (intrusive, recurrent, and distressing thoughts, sensations, urges or images) that take the place of your everyday thoughts.  You're also likely to have compulsions (actions) that are used as a way of setting right or cancelling out the obsessive thought.  Compulsions are things you feel compelled to do even though you may know the behaviour does not make sense.  Compulsions are typically done to reduce the fear or distress associated with obsessive thoughts.

 

Although everyone will have worrying thoughts occasionally, such as a concern over cleanliness or fear that they have left the oven on, these thoughts usually appear briefly, go away again easily and don't cause any further problems.  With OCD, you will have repetitive, worrying thoughts that often prevent you thinking about anything else.  in addition, as a way to combat these obsessive thoughts, you will feel compelled to carry out repetitive behaviours.  This could be physically checking and rechecking something, or it may be that you have to repeat in your mind a particular phrase or count to a certain number again and again.

 

Symptoms of OCD

 

If you have OCD, you will have your own experience of what obsessions and compulsions you have, which will be different to other people with OCD.  However, there are some common themes that many people with OCD find they obsess about.  The main features of obsessions are that they happen frequently, cause you anxiety, and don't go away easily.  Some of the main obsession themes are listed below.

 

  • Contamination obsessions - fearing dirt or germs
  • Aggressive obsessions - fearing doing harm to yourself or others
  • Sexual obsessions - having forbidden, upsetting thoughts
  • Health-related obsessions - such as concern that you have serious illness
  • Hoarding obsessions - worrying about throwing away useless or worn out items.

There are compulsions that you may feel you have to carry out whenever an obsessive thought arises.  Examples are:

 

  • Excessive hand washing
  • Checking something again and again, such as making sure a door is locked
  • Repeating an action such as only walking through a door way in a certain way.
  • Saying a phrase over and over again or counting in your mind
  • Ordering or arranging items in a certain way
  • Excessively asking others for reassurance - this happens more in children who have OCD

 

OCD can lead to you spending a lot of time carrying out compulsive behaviour that gets in the way of doing everyday tasks.  You may also go to great lengths to avoid situations that could start an obsessive thought pattern.

 

Causes of OCD

 

It's not fully understood why OCD develops, although there are a number of theories that try to explain it.  It's likely that it begins as a result of a number of factors.

 

You may find that a stressful event, such as the death of a loved one, the birth of a baby or starting a new job, triggers your OCD or makes it worse.  It may be that you had a childhood trauma that set off the OCD cycles.  It's also possible that if one of your parents showed signs of OCD, this may have been passed on to you.

 

Treatment of OCD

 

The most comprehensive treatment for OCD I have found is Emotional freedom techniques (EFT) or tapping.  This is the most effective way of interrupting the habitual patterns and is also very powerful it relieving the anxiety that comes with the compulsive behaviour, normally within one to four sessions.

 

If you would like a free telephone consultation to discuss you symptoms, please call 0161 442 1747, I really can help you resolve this condition.