What are habits?

Habits are repetitive cycles of behaviour or actions that are hard to give up. Not all habits are bad, but the ones with harmful and negative consequences are.

Are you unable to break free from a habit?

• Are you stuck in a cycle of unhelpful behaviour?
• Do you constantly feel the need to recheck things?
• Are you afraid that something terrible will happen if things are done in a certain way? 
• Do you excessively wash, clean, hoard, count things and put them in order?
• Are you constantly striving for perfection?
• Do unwelcome thoughts, worries, scenes or images, repeatedly appear in your mind?
• Are your routines so time consuming that they disrupt your daily life?
• Do you feel the need to hide certain routines from the people that are close to you?
• Do you feel guilt and shame and about your routines and rituals?

What is OCD?

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by persistent, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviours or mental acts (compulsions) that a person feels compelled to perform in response to these thoughts.

Obsessions are unwanted and distressing thoughts, images, or urges that repeatedly enter the person’s mind. These can include fears of contamination, fears of harming oneself or others, fears of making a mistake, or needing things symmetrical or in a particular order.

Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts that someone feels driven to perform in response to an obsession. The behaviors are aimed at preventing or reducing distress or a feared situation or event. For example, someone might wash their hands many times after thinking they’ve come into contact with germs. Or they might repeatedly check the stove to make sure it’s off due to a fear of starting a fire.

It’s essential to understand that everyone has unwanted thoughts or habits now and then. But for individuals with OCD, these thoughts and behaviours cause significant distress, consume a lot of time (often an hour or more every day), and interfere with their daily life and relationships.

So what are the benefits of using hypnotherapy for OCD?  

Accessing Subconscious Drivers: Hypnotherapy can allow individuals to access subconscious thoughts, and address feelings, and patterns that may be contributing to their OCD symptoms.

Reframing Obsessive Thoughts: During the heightened suggestibility of the hypnotic state, the therapist can introduce new, more adaptive patterns of thinking. By reframing obsessive thoughts, hypnotherapy may help to reduce their frequency or intensity.

Relaxation and Stress Reduction: Stress and anxiety can exacerbate OCD symptoms. Hypnotherapy can induce deep states of relaxation, which can help to alleviate some of the anxiety associated with OCD.

Visualization: Visualization techniques under hypnosis can allow the individual to imagine themselves handling situations without giving in to their obsessions or compulsions, helping to create a blueprint for real-world behavior.

Enhancing Self-Control: Some approaches might focus on increasing the individual’s sense of self-control over their obsessions and compulsions, reinforcing their ability to choose different responses.

Boosting Self-Esteem: OCD can take a toll on self-worth. Hypnotherapy can be used to bolster self-esteem, helping the individual feel more capable and empowered.