Obsessions and Compulsions (OCD)

The natural way to learn anything is to repeat and repeat it until you have learned it. But strong emotion warps this natural learning and causes problems to develop. Emotion is the driving force behind obsessions and compulsions. This emotion is anxiety. The brain is a bit like a stuck record, linked to emotion, when one is compelled to do something over and over in an attempt to gain a sense of control perhaps, or to prevent an imagined unwanted consequence of not carrying out a task.

OCD works like an addiction where strong associations are made between situations and emotions and behaviour.

The imagination is a very powerful thing. Used positively we can envisage great things in the future and work towards those desires. We can shut out pain and distress by imagining comforting places and people. When we misuse the imagination we make things up and believe them. Some beliefs are shaped by emotion and then rationalised by thoughts e.g I am scared that my husband will die in a car crash but if I wash my hands it will not happen. As each day passes and no crash occurs this spurs the person on to continue washing her hands, perhaps as many as fifty times, as she believes that this is indeed preventing a car crash. The association becomes stronger and stronger and so becomes addictive and obsessive.

How can hypnotherapy help?

I can help you to break down the thoughts and emotions that hold the obsessions in place. Obsessions are the minds way of trying to fulfil basic needs e.g feeling in control and safe and secure. We will look at all of your needs and healthy ways of meeting them. Through hypnosis your mind will re-learn how to relax in anxiety provoking situations and you will learn how to use your imagination in a positive and healthy way.                               Back

“If my hands are fully occupied in holding on to something, I can neither give nor receive.”

Dorothee Solle