Obsessions and compulsions, or obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), are anxiety related problems, which can be successfully treated with hypnotherapy.
Obsessions are (usually) unpleasant and intrusive thoughts which the sufferer cannot keep out of their mind. Common obsessions include:
• Unwanted, disturbing thoughts such as sexual or violent urges.• Fear of contamination.
• Fear of causing harm to oneself or others.
• Need for everything to be perfect.
Compulsions are purposeful actions that the sufferer feels compelled to do repeatedly. Common compulsions include:
• Constant cleaning for fear of contamination.• Repeatedly checking things, such as the tap is turned off, or the door is locked.
• Repeating numbers or phrases endlessly under your breath.
• Repeatedly touching and arranging things into neat order.
OCD affects about 2% of the UK population, and occurs equally in males and females.
Hypnotherapy can reduce OCD symptoms by lowering the underlying anxiety, enabling the sufferer to take back control. Hypnotherapy is used to retrain the mind to lower the importance attached to unwanted thoughts, leading to more balanced thought processes. Compulsions are reigned in by taking back control of the imagination, learning to easily distinguish between the real and the imagined.