Hypnotherapy For OCD

[JanuaryAgain]

I had a breakdown about 3/4 years ago, the depression lasting a few years. I feel to have come through the worst of it and am off AD's (very glad to be and really don't want to go back on them.)

My problem is that I'm now left with anxiety issues and OCD. The OCD has improved over the last 12 months, but is still stopping me living a normal life. I have had councelling, but feel it's not really got me anywhere- I have a better understanding of why I have these feelings, but I still can't stop.

I really want to be able to break free of it and have been wondering if hypnotherapy could help? Does anyone have any advice or experience they could share with me? Thanks in advance!

In my experience no. I spent a lot of money with a very good hypnotherapist and it did not change much! It brought up some childhood memories I did not know I had buried but it did not 'cure' me.

I also had a breakdown about 6 years ago but while I was going through it, I did not have a clue what it was. I imagined a breakdown to mean, literally breaking down and staying in bed, not able to eat, acting crazy etc which it certainly does not. I was able to function perfectly well but I was suffering terribly with thoughts and physical sensations. It has took me 5 years to realise what happened and by then the habit was set. I would get a thought or a sensation then panic and fight it and the cycle would go on and on!

I do not believe OCD is an illness on it's own. IMHO OCD is a symptom of anxiety and anxiety is a behavioural problem not a mental illness (quite controversial). You need to work on resetting your way of thinking. Read Claire Weekes' books which are excellent and very simple to understand (she describes obsessions as a symptom of anxiety as well) and I would also be very happy to share an ebook with you if you PM me.

How does the OCD manifest itself? If it's repeatedly checking things it can sometimes help if you make sure you see, hear and in some sense feel that the thing you checked is OK. It gets the message to your brain in different ways IYSWIM. Not about your original question, but wanted to add a crumb in hopes it might help.

Thanks for your replies- ShockedAndSaddened, I will certainly look at the books- it seems to be a different and more helpful way of looking at OCD.

RudolphthePinkNosedReindeer- My OCD has a bit of checking and a lot of contamination fears. At the minute I'm trying to combat it with 'mind over matter'. I've had months of councelling that have not really helped. It's just so frustrating- I don't want to do these things or think these thoughts, but it's like a habit you just can't shake- I just wish there was some instant way to reprogramme my mind to stop it!

NLP can have very good quick results, however it does need to be a good NLP therapist, and they can vary as far as I can tell.