When people think of someone with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), they might think of a character in a TV show, or someone they know who must have everything ‘just right’. Despite the light-hearted laughter and occasional empathy with those characters, the reality is that OCD is a debilitating chronic disorder that can severely affect a person’s everyday life.
Psychiatry.org defines this disorder as ‘a disorder in which people have recurring, unwanted thoughts, ideas or sensations (obsessions) that make them feel driven to do something repetitively (compulsions).’ To put it another way, OCD is taking your worry, doubt, and general anxiety to an excessive or unreasonable level.
Both Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder can cause a feeling of overwhelm. People with OCD may feel even more so as they have every minute of every day planned out to a “T”. Furthermore, thinking about the future way in advance can bring on feelings of anxiety and stress. While some of the symptoms of generalized anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder overlap, there are some key factors that can help clarify the diagnosis.
Mental health advocate Sam Dylan Finch has a lifetime of experience living with obsessive-compulsive disorder. He differentiates the two with the following, “people with generalized anxiety disorder tend to jump from one anxiety to another throughout their day (or have a general sense of being overwhelmed), whereas someone with OCD is more likely to obsess on a particular anxiety (or a few of them) and devote excessive attention to it.”
If you find yourself feeling this way, take a step back, and give yourself the hope that comes with each new day. We all have a story and a pain that will require everything we have to overcome it. This is what creates balance in the world. Every story matters to someone else. Do not be afraid to share your pain and seek treatment for your OCD
One of the leading treatments for OCD and Anxiety is hypnotherapy. Using your mind as a tool and a therapist as your guide, you can bring order to your obsessive mind. You must have faith and conviction in making hard decisions that will, in the end, be exactly what you needed. This might mean recognizing that you have become obsessive compulsive. There is no shame in your experience or that you’ve developed this mechanism to cope.
Professional Psychotherapist and Hypnotherapist Ruth Washton explains:
“In a hypnotic or ‘trance’ state, you can use your imagination to alter your experience and master your anxiety. Exposure Response Prevention (ERP) has been shown to be the most effective treatment for OCD, and in hypnosis the exposure is imagined.”
In other words, going into a state of subconscious mind can help to “adjust the image of an actual feared situation in ways that make it much less threatening.” This is when you can start to unroot the cause of your ceaseless worries and fears and start to make positive changes. A little progress each day adds up to big results. You must have faith and conviction in making the hard decisions that acknowledge you need help and that will, in the end, be exactly what you needed.
Nadiya is a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist with ARCH Canada and has a lot of knowledge that can help you overcome your OCD behaviours and help set you free.
Book at clarity call or send an email today to start your journey to recovery.