CBT Therapy : Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Effective Treatment For: Anxiety
OCD:
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder in which time people have recurring, unwanted thoughts, ideas or sensations (obsessions) that make them feel driven to do something repetitively (compulsions). The repetitive behaviors, such as hand washing, checking on things or cleaning, can significantly interfere with a person’s daily activities and social interactions.
Many people have focused thoughts or repeated behaviors. But these do not disrupt daily life and may add structure or make tasks easier. For people with OCD, thoughts are persistent and unwanted routines and behaviors are rigid and not doing them causes great distress. Many people with OCD know or suspect their obsessions are not true; others may think they could be true (known as poor insight). Even if they know their obsessions are not true, people with OCD have a hard time keeping their focus off the obsessions or stopping the compulsive actions.
OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER (OCD)
What is OCD?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has two main parts: obsessions and compulsions.
- Obsessions are unwelcome thoughts, images, urges, worries or doubts that repeatedly appear in your mind. They can make you feel very anxious (although some people describe it as ‘mental discomfort’ rather than anxiety).
- Compulsions are repetitive activities that you do to reduce the anxiety caused by the obsession. It could be something like repeatedly checking a door is locked, repeating a specific phrase in your head, or checking how your body feels.
[Mind]
If you experience OCD, it’s likely that your obsessions and compulsions will have a big impact on how you live your life:
- Disruption to your day-to-day life. Repeating compulsions can take up a lot of time, and you might avoid certain situations that trigger your OCD. This can mean that you’re not able to go to work, see family and friends, eat out or even go outside. Obsessive thoughts can make it hard to concentrate and leave you feeling exhausted.
- Impact on your relationships. You may feel that you must hide your OCD from people close to you – or your doubts and anxieties about a relationship may make it too difficult to continue.
- Feeling ashamed or lonely. You may feel ashamed of your obsessive thoughts or worry that they can’t be treated. You might want to hide this part of you from other people and find it hard to be around people or to go outside. This can make you feel isolated and lonely.
- Feeling anxious. You may find that your obsessions and compulsions are making you feel anxious and stressed. For example, some people feel that they must carry out their compulsions so frequently that they have little control over them.
[Mind]
OCD affects around 1 in 50 people in the UK. It affects both men and women equally.
[Rethink Mental Illness]
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Patient Quote
“Before I had CBT Therapy I was so anxious as I just couldn’t stop worrying about my children. It was causing problems for me and them. I was texting them all the time to see if they were safe. Thanks to the CBT Therapy I learned to manage my worry and worry less. Things are so much better now for me and my kids. I’m so much less anxious and my children are free again to live their lives.”
Sue, IT Manager
2: Do I have GAD?
- Symptoms
Symptoms – Generalised anxiety disorder in adults
Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) can affect you both physically and mentally.
How severe the symptoms are varies from person to person. Some people have only a few symptoms, while others have many more.
Psychological symptoms of GAD
GAD can cause a change in your behaviour and the way you think and feel about things, resulting in symptoms such as:
- restlessness
- a sense of dread or fear
- feeling constantly “on edge”
- difficulty concentrating
- irritability
Your symptoms may cause you to withdraw from social contact (seeing your family and friends) to avoid feelings of worry and fear.
You may also find going to work difficult and stressful and may take time off sick. These actions can make you worry even more about yourself and increase your lack of self-esteem.
Physical symptoms of GAD
GAD can also have a number of physical symptoms, including:
- dizziness
- tiredness
- a noticeably strong, fast or irregular heartbeat (palpitations)
- muscle aches and tension
- trembling or shaking
- dry mouth
- excessive sweating
- shortness of breath
- stomach ache
- feeling sick
- headache
- pins and needles
- difficulty falling or staying asleep (insomnia)
Citation: NHS Website
GAD does not have a single cause. Your genes, social environment and life experiences all play a role, and interact with each other. If you have a close family member with GAD, you are four to six times more likely to develop an anxiety disorder. However, no single gene causes anxiety disorders. Instead, multiple genes, each having a small effect, interact to increase your risk.
Psychological treatments for Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD):
Both Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (sometimes shortened to CBT Therapy) and Applied Relaxation involve weekly meetings with a CBT Therapist for about 3 to 4 months.
CBT Therapy helps you to understand how your problems, thoughts, feelings and behaviour affect each other. It can also help you to question your negative and anxious thoughts and do things you would usually avoid because they make you anxious.
Applied Relaxation involves learning how to use muscle relaxation techniques when you are feeling anxious or in situations that could make you feel anxious. Your healthcare professional will help you to gradually encounter and cope with these situations.
If you do not think that the course of CBT Therapy or applied relaxation has helped you, you should be offered medication.
1
Intolerance of Uncertainty
This is the main cause of why we worry.
2
Positive Beliefs About Worry
We have both positive and negative beliefs about worry
3
Cognitive Avoidance
We try to push away images and thoughts
Generalised anxiety disorder F41.1
21. The essential feature is anxiety which is not restricted to any particular environment
or stressful event. The anxiety symptoms are often said to be “free-floating” in this
situation. There is pervasive worry with ideas such as fear of illness in the sufferer or
in members of their family. In addition there are feelings of nervousness and
apprehension with physical symptoms such as light-headedness, muscular tension,
inability to relax, palpitations, dizziness and sweating.
22. The diagnostic criteria in ICD-10 in brief are:
22.1. That there must be a period of at least 6 months in which there has been
prominent tension, worry and apprehension about everyday problems.
22.2. In addition there are at least four of the symptoms of anxiety listed in
paragraph 10.1-10.4 above.
22.3. In addition there is muscle tension, restlessness and inability to relax, feeling
“on edge” or tense, a sensation of a lump in the throat or difficulty
swallowing. There may also be an exaggerated response to being startled,
difficulty concentrating, persisting irritability and difficulty getting to sleep
because of worrying.
22.4. Similar symptoms can be caused by physical disorders such as
hyperthyroidism, the consumption of amphetamines or withdrawal from
benzodiazepines. To be diagnosed as generalised anxiety disorder none of
these physical disorders must be present.
22.5. The sufferer must have the symptoms on most days, for at least several
weeks at a time (and usually for several months).
23. The disorder also appears in DSM-IV. However at least six symptoms must be
present (as opposed to four in ICD-10). It has also been noted that the condition is
very difficult to diagnose, different diagnosticians varying greatly in their opinions as
the symptoms are very common in many other psychiatric disorders.
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CBT Therapist London
This article was curated by Alistair Bond – Senior CBT Therapist in London. He is the Clinical Director of the CBT Clinic London and he specialises in treating OCD with CBT Therapy.
If you or a loved one are struggling with OCD, please get in touch with us. You can call our friendly reception team on 0207 157 9924, email info@cbtcliniclondon.com or simply fill out our new patient registration form and we’ll get back to you.
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