OCD

More OCD information

There are five main OCD categories, checking, contamination, symmetry, hoarding and Intrusive Thoughts. all forms of obsessive compulsive disorder respond quickly to solution focused hypnotherapy.

Checking OCD

The compulsion to check and recheck things, over and over again is a widespread form of OCD. An obsession feeds the compulsion, which could be for many reasons including fear of damage, mistakes or harm. It can range from things like re-reading texts and emails, checking light switches and locked doors, through to checking for symptoms of a wrongly suspected illness and anything in between. The compulsion to check can be hundreds of times and can often take hours.

Checking OCD like all forms of obsessive compulsive disorder responds quickly to solution focused hypnotherapy.

Contamination Obsessions and Compulsions

Contamination is probably what most people think of when they hear the term obsessive compulsive disorder. The incorrect stereotype of the person who loves cleaning and tidying, the fact is they are compelled to do this through an obsessive fear of being unclean, harbouring germs and worried about causing harm to themselves and, or others.

It’s more than just washing hands more than others, it’s the compulsion to wash repeatedly, and these rituals associated with OCD can be incredibly time-consuming. A contamination compulsion can profoundly impact peoples lives. From the inability to hold down a job through compromised timekeeping, being unable to have close relationships, eat in restaurants or use public toilets, all have a devastating effect.

The physical dangers of scrubbing or the use of aggressive cleaners as well as mental ones are accurate.

Symmetry Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

The symmetry OCD is the compulsion to have things symmetrically organised with nothing out of place. There is an associated obsessive fear that drives people to do this. It could be anything from straightening pictures, organising cd’s or books, in a precise way.

People with a symmetry OCD will spend a large amount of time trying to get the symmetry perfect. The impact of this compulsion can adversely affect peoples timekeeping and their employability. The draining effect of the time spent arranging things can also have a significant impact on mental health and relationships.

Hoarding OCD

Hoarding is the obsession of being unable to discard things, that are unneeded, often broken or useless. People usually hoard for particular worries or fears like losing a receipt or important document. It soon escalates to not being able to throw anything away, and people soon find themselves running out of space and living their lives surrounded with piled up junk and rubbish. Some people can’t move freely around their homes as their space gets smaller and smaller as the hoarding OCD eats it.

Intrusive thoughts (Pure O)

Intrusive thoughts OCD is when a person has repetitive and obsessive thoughts. These thoughts are unpleasant in nature, they can be of a violent or sexual nature, and disturbing to the person experiencing them. There is no compulsion to act on these obsessions and thoughts, which is why they are often referred to as pure o (pure obsessional).

Common intrusive thoughts can focus on relationships and infidelity, religious, sexual including violence or questioning one’s sexuality, or violent thoughts. These thoughts are involuntary and repetitive; they are very upsetting for the person experiencing them.

It is essential to understand that there is no compulsion to act on these thoughts. Quite the reverse, someone who experiences intrusive thoughts, find them repulsive and disturbing. Intrusive thoughts are not fantasies, people do not want to act on these involuntary thoughts.

Whichever your OCD, you’ll be pleased to know hypnotherapy can help.