What is OCD?
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition that leads to recurring, intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviours. These aren’t habits you can just snap out of—OCD is driven by intense anxiety, and many people mistakenly think it’s all about being tidy or clean. In reality, it can be fuelled by a fear that something awful might happen if certain rituals aren’t followed.
OCD can affect anyone, often showing up in late adolescence for men and early twenties for women, though signs can appear as young as six years old. About one in four cases are picked up by age 14.
The good news? OCD is treatable. With a mix of therapy and medication, many people learn to manage their symptoms and regain control over their lives. And while it’s common for OCD to come alongside other challenges—like depression or eating disorders—with the right support, a more balanced and fulfilling life is absolutely within reach.
1 in 50 suffer from OCD at some point
50% of all diagnosed cases will eventually be classed as severe
Women are 3x as likely to seek support than men
Only 25-30% of those with OCD seek treatment, leaving many without essential support
What causes OCD?
The causes of OCD aren’t simple. It’s usually a mix of different things: biology, genetics, environment, and personal experiences. While we don’t have all the answers, it’s thought that OCD may be linked to:
- Stressful life events or trauma
- Imbalances in brain chemicals like serotonin
- A family history of the condition
- Possible connections with the immune system (e.g., sudden onset after infections)
Despite how complicated it seems, there is hope. While understanding the cause is useful, the focus should be on getting the right treatment. OCD can be successfully managed, and people often see significant improvements in their quality of life
What are the symptoms and effects?
Living with OCD can feel overwhelming. It’s like having an endless stream of intrusive thoughts that you can’t shake. These thoughts (or obsessions) could be:
- Fear of germs or contamination
- Doubts about whether you’ve done something right (like locking the door)
- Disturbing thoughts of harming yourself or others
To quiet these thoughts, you might feel driven to perform compulsions, like:
- Washing your hands over and over
- Checking things repeatedly
- Keeping everything in perfect order
These behaviours can take over your day, offering only brief relief before the cycle starts again. OCD isn’t just a quirky habit—it’s exhausting, and it can impact your life in major ways.
But you’re not powerless against it. With the right understanding and support, you can break the cycle. Treatment helps you manage these thoughts and behaviours so you can get back to living life on your terms. If OCD is interfering with your daily life, reaching out to a GP or mental health professional is the first step in taking back control.
How can it be managed?
Knowing the difference between perfectionism and OCD is crucial. Perfectionism is wanting to get things just right; OCD is when obsessive thoughts and compulsions disrupt your daily life. If these behaviours are starting to interfere with your wellbeing, it’s important to seek help.
OCD is usually managed through a combination of:
Therapy
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) are especially effective. ERP helps you face your fears without giving in to compulsions, while CBT challenges the thoughts that feed your OCD.
Medication
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) or Clomipramine can help balance the brain’s chemistry and reduce symptoms.
Therapy is available privately or through the NHS, although waiting times can vary. What matters is finding a therapist who specialises in OCD, as their experience can make a big difference. Many people find that a combination of therapy and medication helps them make real progress, and with time, you can too.
How can hypnotherapy help?
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy takes a different approach to OCD. It’s more than just relaxing—it’s about accessing your subconscious, where the roots of OCD often lie. While traditional therapy works with your conscious thoughts, hypnotherapy helps you dig deeper to break the cycle of obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours.
Through hypnotherapy, you’ll:
- Explore your subconscious to uncover what’s driving your OCD
- Gently weaken the grip these thoughts have over you
- Build resilience and create healthier patterns of thinking
It’s not about fixing you—you’re not broken. It’s about rediscovering your inner strength and learning to trust yourself again. Hypnotherapy offers a path to reclaiming your confidence and finding freedom from OCD.
Our Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Specialists
Benn Baker-Pollard
Sittingbourne
Carmen Harrington
Market Harborough
Caroline Prout
Thrapston
Chris Johannes
Spalding
Claire Noyelle
Maidstone East
Dawn Ibbetson
Chelmsford
Gary Johannes
Peterborough
Jill Whitehouse
Newcastle upon Tyne
Keeley Smith
Southend-on-Sea
Kerry Seymour
Weston-super-Mare
Why Choose Inspired To Change
Our solution focused hypnotherapists empower you to better understand your brain, helping to guide you towards solutions and achieve the outcomes you want. We have a team of fully trained hypnotherapists, giving you the choice of who to work with and how you want to work with them. Solution focused hypnotherapy is just as effective in-person or online in the comfort of your own home, so you can find the ideal therapist to help you reach your goals.
Every one of our hypnotherapists is recognised by governing bodies like the National Council for Hypnotherapy, the UK’s leading not-for-profit hypnotherapy professional association. They have all trained with Clifton Practice Hypnotherapy Training, one of the leading hypnotherapy schools in the UK.
