I have obsessions or compulsions…

What?

Obsessions are unwelcome thoughts, urges, or doubts that keep coming to your mind. Obsessions become an issue when they become hard to manage. You might feel that you can’t share them with others, or that they are a reflection of your personality. But that is not the case. People with obsessions are very unlikely to act on their thoughts. 

Why?

While there is no definitive cause for obsessions, there are some theories that suggest that personal experiences and/or biological factors are involved. 

Personal experiences, such as;

  • If you’ve had a painful childhood experience, you could subconsciously learn to use obsessions to cope with anxiety.

  • If your parents have had similar anxieties and obsessions, it could be a learned behaviour.

  • Ongoing stress and/or anxiety can trigger or exacerbate obsessions. 

  • Pregnancy and giving birth can trigger perinatal OCD.

Biological factors such as;

  • A lack of serotonin in your brain is theorised to be a trigger. However, it is unclear whether this is a cause or effect. 

  • There are ongoing studies looking at whether genetics could be a trigger, but there is yet to be a definitive answer. 

Some experts have noted that some children develop OCD symptoms suddenly after having a strep infection. This is sometimes referred to as PANS (Paediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome). This hasn’t been confirmed and requires more research. If you’re concerned your child may be going through this, we recommend talking to your GP as we aren’t medical professionals. 

How can I get help?

Managing obsessions is an ongoing process. There is no quick cure. You might find that your obsessions are easier to manage and sometimes where it seems unmanageable. If you feel you might benefit from talking to a counsellor about your obsessions, then please use the contact form below and we’ll get you booked in. Otherwise, here are some self-care tips that you might find helpful.

  • It's understandable to want to get rid of thoughts that you find distressing or worrying. But often, the more we try to get rid of a thought, the more it comes into our mind. It can start to feel like the thought is stuck in our head, no matter what we do.

  • Try to remember that intrusive thoughts are very common. Some studies have estimated that we have over 6,000 thoughts a day. And most people report that they sometimes have thoughts that bother them. Or that they find confusing, shameful or frightening.

  • Try to sit with the thoughts that come into your head, rather than trying to get rid of them or make them better.

  • It may help to name the thoughts. For example, you could think or say to yourself "there’s that intrusive thought again" or "here’s that thought that makes me feel scared".

  • Some people find that if they exaggerate or make fun of their intrusive thoughts, it can make the thought less powerful.