OCD is a condition where individuals experience persistent, unwanted thoughts, known as obsessions. To cope with these thoughts, people engage in repetitive behaviour, referred to as compulsions.
These compulsive actions, like excessive hand washing, constant checking, or mental rituals such as counting, can significantly disrupt a person’s daily routine and social interactions.
Occasional distressing thoughts or repetitive behaviour is common, and most people can manage them without major disruption to their lives. In contrast, for those with OCD, the obsessions are intrusive and enduring, and the compulsive behavior becomes rigidly ingrained. Failing to perform these rituals often results in heightened distress, typically associated with a specific fear of dire consequences for oneself or loved ones if the compulsions are not completed.
At Sun Inside your therapist can help you manage the difficulties related to OCD and improve your ability to function. This includes first talking about your thoughts, feelings, symptoms and behaviour patterns to find out if you have obsessions or compulsive behaviour that gets in the way of your quality of life. Your therapist can then teach you the strategies you need to reduce obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviour, and free yourself from the distress and difficulties associated with OCD.