OCD Reprogramming:

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Therapy - in Bournemouth.

I've had OCD since I was a child, although of course I didn't know it then.  In fact I didn't realise that I had OCD until I started training in counselling, hypnotherapy and NLP and in the process of my studies I encountered references to the then 'new' (to me) condition called OCD and like a proverbial 'bolt out of the blue' it dawned on me that what these examples described explained some of my own experiences. I'd known that something was amiss way back, when I was a teenager in the 1970s  when I confided to a trusted friend about my 'phobia' (the word phobia was the best word I could find to describe an obsession that used to trouble me a lot at the time).

But OCD is not a simple phobia.

Phobias, on the whole, can be relatively easily dealt with using hypnotherapy/NLP. While admittedly very unpleasant phobias are basically learned behaviours that can, with the correct treatment be 'unlearned', so to speak (I've personally helped many people to overcome phobias that they've had for years). Phobias are essentially emotional in nature (the word phobia means fear, an emotion). OCD on the other hand is not a learned behaviour.  OCD is very different (although outwardly some of the symptoms can look similar to phobias). OCD is organic in origin (meaning anatomical, physical), it's caused by the 'wiring' of the brain, not by learned conditioned response encounters to real or imagined fear inducing situations (which is, in a 'nutshell', what causes a phobia).

The root of OCD: the basal ganglia

Neuroscientists now understand that the brain of someone with OCD is literally wired differently, in certain specific ways to that of a non-OCD person. An area of the brain known as the basal ganglia is seen particularly to operate in different ways in someone with OCD. Unlike most other people the basal ganglia in someone with OCD seems to work 'overtime' to ensure that they feel safe, in a variety of ways. For instance one of the most common compulsions that occurs in OCD is the repetitive washing of hands. Back in the 1980s for example I went through a period when I washed my hands with disinfectant, sometimes until they cracked and bled (fortunately, I overcame this extreme compulsion a long time ago). A hand washing compulsion is usually preceded by a contamination fear: the person feels that his or her hands have been contaminated in some way and in order to feel safe they're compelled to wash them to 'remove' the 'contamination'. Other forms of OCD cause some to repetitively check that kettles are turned off.  Some worry about whether or not they've left their cookers on. Some will ruminate over a non-existent illness. Some will be troubled by recurring unpleasant thoughts.  And others might have fears that they've 'sinned' against God in some kind of unforgivable way (this form of OCD is called Scrupulosity). And as a result they'll seek to find ways (like hand washing) to alleviate their doubts to feel safe.  However, as I learned in my hypnotherapy training: 'what you resist persists'. This means that trying to 'fight' the problem by repetitively washing hands, by checking kettles and cookers, by constantly visiting the doctor for reassurance, or praying for forgiveness in an excessive way over real or imagined 'sins' only really serves to exacerbate the problem.

Treatment

So what can be done? Lots actually. Evidence demonstrates that certain behavioural modification techniques which effectively help a person to learn how to reprogramme the way they respond to their obsessions and compulsions can have very beneficial results. Something else that can be useful too is to get together with someone else who understands what it's like to have OCD. Sometimes a person with OCD can feel very isolated and misunderstood. Meeting someone else who is managing OCD can help to overcome such issues.  By talking about your experiences with someone who understands your situation (both as a counsellor and as someone who has OCD) you can feel freer to explore a variety of self-help principles that can be used to gain more control over this condition, in the company of someone who fully understands your challenges and aspirations who has successfully reduced many of his own symptoms (which means that you're less likely to feel awkward or embarrassed talking about your own OCD symptoms).

You are not your OCD

Remember you are not your OCD. It's important that you understand this. You are not your obsessive thoughts, nor are you your compulsions. Remember: OCD occurs due to they way your brain is 'wired' causing the basal ganglia to work 'overtime' in the process of which this can generate obsessions and compulsions (your brain is actually trying to help you, it's just going about it in an excessive way). Interestingly, evidence suggests that people with OCD are usually amongst the most conscientious, considerate, honest and friendly people you're likely to meet. Contrary to what many people with OCD feel (which is a sense of shame and guilt due to their obsessions and compulsions) they actually have a pronounced good conscience. Several leading truly spiritual religious figures have been cited as having struggled with OCD, for example. If you imagine a 'moral continuum', you have at one end the sociopaths who have no conscience (and this doesn't bother them) who go out of the way to hurt people and at the other end those with OCD who have an overly pronounced conscience (coupled with an exaggerated sense of guilt or shame), even though they seek to 'do the right thing' in life.

Go for it!

Having OCD doesn't have to mean that you have to put your life on hold. In my own life OCD has given me great insights into learning to manage and overcome challenges and, what's more I sense that I've developed a highly-tuned sense of compassion, because I know what it can be like to struggle sometimes to overcome a problem (and this has helped me a great deal in my counselling and hypnotherapy career). Even with OCD I've successfully developed a training company (Eos Seminars Ltd), through which, with my wife Gill, I've taught many people to become competent therapists themselves. As a counsellor and hypnotherapist I've worked with people from all walks of life to help them overcome various emotional and psychological challenges, addictions, phobias, low self-esteem and much more. I've written a couple of books, recorded a range of CDs and all the while I've lived with OCD.  I aim to 'walk my talk', so to speak. To be sure, sometimes I've stumbled but, and it's an important but... I do keep moving forward, to welcome the many new opportunities that life brings me. (And what's more, I think certain aspects of having OCD have actually helped me to achieve my goals in life. I'll talk more about this when we meet.)

Change

I stopped washing my hands with disinfectant years ago. I've overcome other OCD challenges too. And as my own understanding develops I continue to find ways to work on other areas of my life that I want to improve. Spontaneous remission of OCD sometimes occurs, and I keep that in mind as a source of inspiration. I also understand though that for some OCD is a lifelong issue and in such cases relief can found by learning how to reprogramme how we respond to the OCD.

Embrace the future

If you'd like to get together with me to explore ways that can help you to learn to change the way you respond to OCD then get in touch. We'll chat in a relaxed way while exploring methods that have been shown to be helpful in the treatment of OCD, which will include the use of hypnosis, during which time you can enjoy relaxing as you invite your unconscious mind to help you too.

Details

The cost per therapy session is £60.00.

If you want to arrange an appointment get in touch by emailing me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  I'm a qualified counsellor, hypnotherapist and NLP Master Practitioner with over 14 years of experience gained helping men, women and children from all walks of life to overcome their problems.  (Remember, I've had a lot of success working on my own OCD symptoms too.) I look forward to meeting you too.

Famous people with OCD

This is interesting. Here are some names of some very famous people who are said to either have or have had OCD who have, nevertheless become very successful in their chosen endeavors.

Jessica Alba (actress)

Natalie Appleton (singer: All Saints)

Beethoven (composer)

David Beckham (footballer)

John Bunyon (author: Pilgrim’s Progress)

Sir Winston Churchill (politician)

Penelope Cruz (actress)

Cameron Diaz (actress)

Leonardo DiCaprio (actor)

Charles Darwin (scientist)

Charles Dickens (author)

Albert Einstein (scientist)

Harrison Ford (actor)

St Therese of Lisieux (saint)

Jennifer Love Hewitt (actress)

Martin Luther (Christian reformer)

Michael Jackson (singer)

Stanley Kubrick (film director)

Emily Lloyd (actress)

Michelangelo (artist)

Katy Perry (singer)

Cole Porter (composer)

Martin Scorsese (film director)

Nikola Tesla (scientist)

Charlize Theron (actress)

Billy Bob Thornton (actor)

Justin Timberlake (singer)

Books

Here are some useful books about dealing with OCD. They contain lots of information about what causes OCD and details of various techniques that can be used to reduce it.

Brain Lock by Dr Jeffrey M. Schwartz

Break Free From OCD by Dr Fiona Challacombe, Dr Victoria Bream Oldfield and Professor Paul Salkovskis

Imp of the Mind by Lee Baer, PhD

The OCD Workbook by Bruce M. Hyman, PhD and Cherry Pedrick, RN

Tormenting Thoughts and Secret Rituals by Ian Osborn, M.D.

Understanding Scrupulosity by Thomas M. Santa C.Ss.R

* OCD Reprogramming with Kerin Webb, MA, D.Hyp, Counsellor, Hypnotherapist, NLP Master Practitioner.