Frequently reduced to a joke or having high cleaning standards, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a serious issue that left unchecked can wreak havoc on all areas of your life.

OCD isn’t about one exact issue, such as being clean or terrified of germs. It’s when you have a lack of control over unwanted negative thoughts and feel compelled to act on them. It can dominate your life and result in you prioritising your obsessions and compulsions above everything else.

What is OCD?

OCD is comprised of obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are unwanted thoughts about a specific issue and the consequence of that is often compulsions, which is an action designed to placate the obsession. For example, someone diagnosed with OCD may worry about contamination and in response may repeatedly and excessively wash their hands.

What are the symptoms of obsessions?

An obsession is an intrusive thought, anxiety, worry or image that you keep experiencing. While anything could become an obsession, there are some common themes which include:

• Safety: A fear of harm or death and feeling responsible for keeping other people safe
• Remaining appropriate: Anxiety about accidentally acting inappropriately, even though you have no intention of it
• Hygiene: A worry about becoming contaminated through germs, dirt and other people
• Organisation: The need for control often through fixing unbalanced or unsymmetrical objects

What are the symptoms of compulsions?

Compulsions are the actions used to address obsessions. Despite the connection between the two, the action isn’t always obviously related to the thought. For example, you may avoid stepping on the cracks of a pavement to stop a loved one dying. They person engaging in this will know it isn’t rational, but feel compelled to do it nonetheless.

A compulsion that is part of OCD is characterised by its frequent and extreme nature, which often impacts the person’s ability to live a full life. Some common types of compulsions involve:

• Safety: checking the door is locked
• Remaining appropriate: repeatedly seeking external reassurance
• Hygiene: washing hands or object
• Organisation: arranging objects

The impact of OCD

Managing OCD requires intense effort, can be anxiety-inducing and is often time-consuming. Understandably, many people dealing with the disorder experience unwanted consequences including:

Embarrassment: Most people who have OCD understand that the compulsion won’t actually ‘fix’ their worry, but feel forced to act on it nonetheless. This can lead to feelings of shame and embarrassment, which unhelpfully makes accessing support even more difficult and can lead to isolation.

Stress: The burden of OCD is a lot to cope with and understandably a lot of people become stressed and anxious from the daily toll it takes.

Strained relationships: You may feel ashamed of your OCD and withdraw from relationships to avoid humiliation. Equally, you may prioritise managing your OCD over your loved ones or simply not have enough time leftover to have quality time together.

Limits daily life: Performing compulsions can require a significant time commitment, which means there is less time for work, hobbies, relaxation and all the other parts that make up a full and fulfilling life.

Types of OCD

OCD can look very different from person to person. Some of the most common presentations include:

Contamination OCD
A persistent fear of germs, illness or contamination, often leading to excessive cleaning, handwashing or avoidance of everyday objects and places.

Pure O (Purely Obsessional OCD)
A form of OCD where the compulsions are largely mental rather than physical. People experience deeply distressing intrusive thoughts, often violent, sexual or blasphemous in nature, and carry out internal rituals such as reassurance-seeking or mental reviewing to manage the anxiety they cause.

Harm OCD
Intrusive thoughts about accidentally or deliberately harming others, often accompanied by intense guilt and a compulsion to seek reassurance or avoid certain situations.

Checking OCD
A compulsion to check repeatedly, driven by a fear that something terrible will happen if a check is missed.

Relationship OCD (ROCD)
Persistent doubt and intrusive questioning about the quality or suitability of a relationship, often leading to constant reassurance-seeking and significant distress.

Scrupulosity
An OCD subtype centred on religious or moral themes, involving fears of having sinned, acted immorally, or failed to meet a required standard of behaviour.

If you recognise yourself in any of these, you are not alone, and effective help is available.

What does OCD therapy involve?

Therapy for OCD at Inner Space is tailored to you. Rather than following a rigid protocol, your therapist will draw on their training and experience to understand the patterns driving your OCD and work with you to loosen their grip. The focus is on helping you develop a different relationship with intrusive thoughts and on breaking the cycle between obsession and compulsion, at a pace that feels right for you.

Therapy is always paced at your comfort level. Your therapist will never push you into anything you are not ready for.

What to expect from therapy for OCD

First sessions
Your therapist will take time to understand your experience, what your obsessions and compulsions are, how long they have been present, and how they are affecting your daily life. There is no pressure to share more than you are comfortable with.

Building a picture
Together, you will map out the patterns that maintain your OCD. This is not about blame or finding fault. It is about understanding the cycle so you can start to change it.

Developing new responses
Your therapist will work with you to build new ways of responding to intrusive thoughts, including learning to sit with uncertainty, always at a pace that feels manageable.

Ongoing support
Progress is not always linear, and your therapist will check in regularly to adjust the work as needed. Most clients begin to feel a meaningful shift within a few months of weekly sessions.

How can therapy help manage OCD?

Getting help for OCD is critical, as if it’s left untreated it can last forever. Fortunately, with the right help, people suffering from OCD can bring their symptoms completely under control. Talking therapies are recommended by the NHS and NICE and fortunately, most people who get the right treatment report a major improvement in their symptoms.

Working with a therapist is a big first step in taking back control of your life. First, you will work together to uncover what issues have trigged your OCD, before looking at the thoughts that perpetuate the cycle of it. This self-knowledge will help you identify present day triggers and from there you can work with your therapist to create new, healthy coping strategies.

If you are ready to explore how therapy could help you manage OCD, we offer a free initial phone consultation. Call us on 01892 249032, or click the button below to choose a time that suits you.

Frequently asked questions

Can OCD be cured?
OCD is a recognised mental health condition, and while there is no instant cure, the right therapy can bring symptoms under significant control. Many people who complete a course of OCD therapy report major improvements in their quality of life and ability to function day to day.

How long does therapy for OCD take?
This varies depending on the severity and history of the OCD. Some people find significant relief within a few months of weekly sessions; others benefit from longer-term work. Your therapist will discuss a realistic timeframe with you from the outset.

Is online therapy effective for OCD?
Yes. Therapy for OCD works just as well online as in person. If getting to a physical location feels difficult due to OCD-related anxiety, online therapy can be a particularly accessible starting point.

What if I am embarrassed about my intrusive thoughts?
This is one of the most common concerns people raise before starting therapy. Your therapist has worked with the full range of OCD presentations, including intrusive thoughts that feel shameful or disturbing. You will not be judged, and confidentiality is absolute.

Resources

What is OCD therapy? – Our in-depth guide to how therapy for OCD works

OCD Action – Information, forums and local groups for people affected by OCD

OCD UK – A charity run by people with OCD, for people with OCD

Triumph Over Phobia – Self-help groups and support for those with OCD and phobias