| OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER
Despite being the listed amongst
the top 10 most debilitating illnesses by the World
Health Organisation and thought to affect 2-3% of the
UK population Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is still
largely unknown in both the public eye and with many
GP's.
This disorder can be looked at in two parts; obsessions
- these are repetitive, obtrusive, unwanted thoughts
that are experienced and result in unreasonable fears,
and compulsions - acts or rituals carried out in response
to fears generated by obsessions.
The classic OCD condition is that of compulsive hand
washing in response to an irrational fear of germs/contamination.
Sufferers of this disorder feel less anxious once they
have carried out a compulsion. It is possible to experience
obsessive thoughts only and not have the desire to carry
out a compulsion. Examples of compulsions are excessive
cleaning, counting, checking, measuring, and repeating
tasks or actions. Trichotillomania (compulsive hair-pulling)
may also be classified under the general umbrella of
OCD.
Examples of obsessions are worrying excessively about
death, germs, illness - usually AIDS, cancer, etc. (this
can also be classified as an 'Illness phobia',) having
undesirable sexual thoughts, fearing causing harm to
others.
Read the symptoms below, and if you answer 'yes' to
any of the issues mentioned, you may have some form
of OCD:
- I feel trapped in a pattern of unwanted and upsetting
thoughts.
- I feel I have to do the same things over again for
no good reason.
- I have upsetting thoughts or images enter my mind
again and again.
- I feel like I can’t stop these thoughts or
images, even though I want to.
- I have a hard time stopping myself from doing things
again and again, like: counting, checking on things,
washing my hands, re-arranging objects, doing things
until it feels right, collecting useless objects.
- I worry a lot about terrible things that could happen
if I’m not careful.
- I have unwanted urges to hurt someone but know I
never would.
Hypnotherapy can be highly successful in treating OCD
and many people have been helped to regain control of
their life after only a few sessions.
If you feel trapped and a slave to OCD of any kind
and would like help then contact us today.
|
