Obsessive compulsive disorder is not an addictive process, but for those suffering from it, it may feel similar. OCD is not in its self treatable with a Twelve Step Recovery process either. However, there are many people who self medicate their OCD to escape the anxiety and feelings of loss of control that they experience as a result of their illness. They tend to keep the drug use secret creating difficulties in diagnosing addiction or treatment, and thereby making the problem worse and reducing the chance that they will seek help before a chronic stage is reached.
There are several studies that show people suffering from OCD are more likely to move from casual drug use into addiction than any other part of the population. The reason for this is because the OCD proves that the individual has compulsive tendencies. When these tendencies are tied to drug abuse or alcohol abuse, addiction usually follows soon thereafter. Research has also found that when an individual with OCD turns to drugs, they tend to use those with enhanced performance including stimulants such as cocaine and amphetamines. Caffeine consumption is often in the extreme with people with OCD due to its stimulant properties. Those who suffer from both addiction and OCD need standard alcohol and other drug treatment plus integrated levels of psychiatric care. Recovery will, by definition, take substantially longer and will differ from individual depending on the severity of each presenting problem.
Obsessions are involuntary, seemingly uncontrollable thoughts, images, or impulses that occur over and over again in your mind. You don’t want to have these ideas. In fact, you know that they don’t make any sense. But you can’t stop them. Unfortunately, these obsessive thoughts are usually disturbing and distracting.
Compulsions are behaviours or rituals that you feel driven to act out again and again. Usually, compulsions are performed in an attempt to make obsessions go away, hence the difficulty in stopping. For example, if you’re afraid of contamination, dirt, you might develop elaborate cleaning rituals. The relief never lasts of course. In fact, the obsessive thoughts usually come back stronger undermining any hope. Then the compulsive behaviours often end up causing anxiety themselves as they become more demanding and time consuming, and less effective in managing the anxious feelings.
Most people with OCD have both obsessions and compulsions, but some people experience just one or the other. The symptoms of OCD may ebb and flow over time. Often, the symptoms get worse in times of stress.
Most people with obsessive compulsive disorder fall into one of the following categories:
Washers are afraid of contamination by germs or dirt. They usually have cleaning or hand-washing compulsions.
Checkers repeatedly check things such as oven turned off, door locked, etc. that they associate with harm or danger.
Doubters and those who feel “bad” are afraid that if everything isn’t perfect or done just right something terrible will happen or they will be punished.
Counters and arrangers are obsessed with order and symmetry. They may have superstitions about certain numbers, colours, or arrangements.
Hoarders fear that something bad will happen if they throw anything away. They compulsively hoard things that they don’t need or use.
Superstitions with excessive attention to something considered lucky or unlucky.
Harm, the fear of causing damage or hurt to yourself or others.
Intrusive sexually explicit or violent thoughts and images.
Just because you have obsessive thoughts or perform compulsive behaviours does NOT mean that you have obsessive compulsive disorder. Many people have mild obsessions or compulsions that are strange or irrational, but they’re still able to lead their lives without much disruption. But with obsessive compulsive disorder, these thoughts and behaviours cause tremendous distress, take up a lot of time, and interfere with your daily routine, job, or relationships.
See the OCD self assessment on the next page to see if you need to ask for help.
