Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic and often disabling illness that is marked by intrusive, unwanted thoughts and repetitive behaviours that a person cannot resist. Although CBT and medication are the most common forms of treatment, hypnotherapy is gradually becoming popular as another effective form of treatment that has high up-side potential. This article aims at explaining how hypnosis can be helpful in the management and treatment of OCD, and how the information can be applied for those who are interested in this method.

Understanding Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

OCD works in a way that generates a cycle of obsessions and compulsions in an individual. Obsessions are unwanted thoughts, images, or impulses that are distressing and cause a lot of anxiety. Some of the most frequent ones are the fear of germs, causing the self or others harm, and compulsions to arrange items in a certain way, such as patterns. These are rituals or behaviours that are performed in order to neutralise the anxiety that is caused by the obsessions. Some of the symptoms are washing, checking, counting, and arranging objects in a certain manner.

This disorder can cause a lot of issues and can lead to avoidance behaviours, social isolation and problems with work and other responsibilities. It is therefore important to know as much about OCD as possible in order to be able to identify the effects it has and the possible ways of treating it.

How Common is OCD?

How Common is OCD

OCD is a common mental disorder that affects about 12 in every 1,000 people in the UK. The symptoms of the disorder are usually seen before the age of 25 and the disorder does not have any preference for gender. The condition can be mild in some cases while in other cases it can lead to severe disability in the affected individual’s day to day life.

However, a large number of people with OCD remain untreated because they are stigmatised or do not know that cognitive behavioural therapy is an evidence-based treatment for the disorder. It is crucial to raise awareness of OCD and the available treatments to make more people come for the treatment.

Is It Possible to Treat It with Hypnotherapy?

Hypnotherapy is a technique that uses hypnosis to help the patient to relax and to focus his or her mind on the therapist’s words in order to be able to address the subconscious part of the mind. This therapeutic technique can help to tackle the psychological processes that are at the root of OCD, which can be useful in addition to other forms of treatment.

Studies have found that hypnosis may help in reducing the symptoms of OCD. Hypnotherapy can help to change the way the subconscious mind works and therefore can help to change obsessive thinking, anxiety and compulsive behaviours. Hypnotherapy may not always be sufficient to treat OCD on its own, but it can be very effective when combined with other treatments such as CBT and medication. The outcome will depend on the severity of the condition and the duration of the treatment that the patient will undergo. The more severe the OCD, the more sessions it will require to cure the patient.

How Hypnosis Can Help?

Cognitive-behavioural hypnotherapy for OCD aims at the unconscious level of the mind, which controls the behaviour and thinking. In OCD hypnotherapy, the therapist helps the client to relax deeply. In this state, the subconscious mind is more open to accept suggestions and other forms of treatments. The critical mechanisms through which hypnotherapy helps OCD include:The critical mechanisms through which hypnotherapy helps OCD include:

Managing Intrusive Thoughts

Hypnosis OCD treatment is a process that enables people to alter and control the way they think about certain ideas that are hard to let go of by dealing with the root cause of these thoughts. Methods like guided imagery and positive affirmations are employed to minimise the discomfort that is associated with such thoughts.

Altering Compulsive Behaviours

Hypnotherapy can help to address the underlying causes of compulsive behaviours and thus decrease the need to engage in rituals. This approach assists in the reduction of the frequency and intensity of compulsions and assists individuals in regaining control over their actions.

Reducing Anxiety and Stress

Hypnosis is a process that helps to put the patient into a state of relaxation, and this automatically leads to the reduction of anxiety. This reduction in anxiety can help people to avoid engaging in compulsive behaviours and to control obsessive thinking.

Changing Perception of Triggers

Hypnotherapy can assist in altering the perception and response to the obsessive compulsive disorder triggers in the affected persons. Changing these perceptions helps in decreasing the anxiety related to triggers and thus prevents the person from indulging in compulsive behaviours.

Building Self-Confidence and Independence

Hypnotherapy can increase self-esteem and encourage the ability to be more self-reliant. In this way, these qualities can help people to reduce the need for compulsive behaviours and find other ways of providing comfort.

What Makes Hypnotherapy For OCD Different From Other Treatments?

Why is Hypnotherapy for OCD Different from Other Treatments

Hypnotherapy is not the same as other forms of treatment such as CBT and medication in the following ways. While CBT is based on changing the cognitive and behavioural processes, hypnotherapy targets the unconscious part of the brain to treat the causes of OCD. This level of intervention can result in quicker and more significant shifts than the previous level of intervention.

Also, hypnotherapy is more effective than other forms of treatment, and the changes are usually seen in a shorter period of time. CBT and medication may require several weeks or even months to produce a noticeable change, but hypnotherapy may produce results within a few sessions.

Another benefit of hypnotherapy is that it is a holistic treatment. Hypnotherapy is a form of treatment that can help with OCD because it targets both the psychological and physiological aspects of the disorder.

Do You Need OCD Hypnotherapy?

When thinking about hypnotherapy for OCD, it is crucial to find a professional who is well-trained in this field. Dr Kamal is a professional Clinical Hypnotherapist and NLP practitioner working in London who provides hypnotherapy for OCD. Dr. Kamal has more than 25 years of experience in the field of mental health and uses Clinical Hypnotherapy, Psychotherapy, and Counselling.

Dr. Kamal’s method is to develop a specific treatment plan for each patient, depending on his or her particular situation. The sessions can be done face to face at his clinic located in Harley Street or through video conferencing, thus making it easy for anyone to access his services. The purpose is to provide the most effective treatment to the clients and help them minimise the symptoms of OCD and improve their quality of life.

To book a consultation with Dr. Kamal, you can call his practice or send an email. The first appointment will involve an assessment of your symptoms and what you hope to achieve from treatment and the creation of an individualised treatment plan.

Therefore, hypnotherapy can be considered as a potential complementary treatment for OCD, which has several advantages due to its focus on the subconscious level of the patient’s mind. Knowing the ways in which hypnotherapy helps and taking into consideration the experience of professionals such as Dr Kamal, people with OCD can consider this method as an effective supplement to their treatment plan. Hypnotherapy can help to bring the hidden aspects of OCD into the light and thus help the sufferer to live a more normal life. Make a better tomorrow by visiting Dr Kamal today.

Book your hypnotherapy session today!