Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can be described as an anxiety disorder. A person suffering from OCD may feel a compulsive need to engage in certain behaviors meant to bring relief to inner turmoil and anxiety. These behaviors can be action-based or within the person’s inner thoughts. Common action-based symptoms of OCD are things like excessive hand washing, turning on-and-off a light switch a set number of times, touching a doorway in a ritualistic fashion before entering a room, vehemently avoiding stepping on sidewalk cracks, or any other behavior completed compulsively with specific rules. When the person does not follow their own rules, they feel anxious until they can repeat the behavior. When OCD manifests itself in a person’s thoughts, they may obsessive over having “bad thoughts” and try to compulsively control their thoughts.
Unfortunately, even though these thoughts and behaviors are meant to lessen anxiety, they often cause even more anxiety and other problems in a person’s life. OCD can be trauma-related. OCD and other anxiety disorders tend to be the result of an overactive nervous system. Traumatic experiences and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can create issues for people suffering from them. Their overactive nervous systems are constantly on “high-alert,” resulting in difficulty with regulating their nervous system. As a result, they may develop symptoms of OCD as a way to regulate their nervous system.
Learning more effective ways to regulate the nervous system can be found through therapeutic practices aimed to calm a person. They can learn new ways of coping with the effects of trauma and try alternative practices, like yoga and meditation, to manage the underlying causes of their OCD symptoms.
OCD can be the result of an overactive nervous system and can cause sufferers a great deal of anxiety. They may feel a compulsive need to “think away” bad thoughts or complete certain tasks in a ritualistic manner. OCD can diminish a person’s quality of life, as they may get trapped inside their own thinking or stuck obsessing over getting everyday tasks accomplished “the right way.” OCD can be related to trauma, as trauma can create an overactive nervous system for the sufferer. They may experience similar anxieties as those with OCD and may adopt OCD-like symptoms to relieve their anxieties. Unfortunately, these behaviors block people from healing and can get in the way of effective treatments. The Guest House can help those suffering from OCD when their symptoms are related to traumatic experiences. We specialize in trauma healing and welcome those needing a safe place to get better. Call us today at (855) 483-7800 to get started on your treatment!