OCD and Addiction

OCD comes in different forms, but OCD symptoms often fall into one of four main types. Understanding these can help you make sense of what you are going through:

1. Contamination and cleaning OCD

OCD symptoms for this type include always worrying about germs, getting sick or touching something dirty. People with this type of OCD often feel the need to wash their hands, clean surfaces or avoid certain places to keep themselves or others safe from harm.

2. Harm and checking OCD

This type of OCD is all about the fear of causing harm, either to yourself or to someone else. You might find yourself double- or triple-checking things like doors, hobs, car brakes or anything else that could potentially cause danger.

3. Symmetry and ordering OCD

Do you feel like everything needs to be perfectly balanced or in a specific order? This OCD type can create terrible anxiety if things aren’t lined up the way they should be and can lead to an obsession with arranging or counting things or repeating actions until they feel “right.”

4. Forbidden thoughts and mental rituals OCD

This one is really tough because it involves thoughts or images that feel wrong or disturbing to you. You might have violent, sexual or blasphemous thoughts that you can’t get out of your head. To deal with these thoughts, you might create mental rituals like counting, praying or repeating certain phrases to try and make the thoughts go away.

When you are dealing with OCD and addiction, it is called a dual diagnosis. This means that you have both mental health and addiction disorders simultaneously. This is incredibly common as research shows that about 1 in 4 people with OCD will also deal with some form of substance addiction during their lives.

OCD can be exhausting, with the unrelenting thoughts and the rituals really taking their toll.  Sometimes, people turn to drugs, alcohol or even prescription medicines to try to quiet their minds or escape the stress that OCD brings. It might feel like it helps for a bit, but in reality, it can make your OCD symptoms even tougher to handle.

It is also important to be aware that certain types of OCD medication, like benzodiazepines or certain sleep aids, can be habit-forming if not used carefully. These medications can provide short-term relief, but they carry a risk of dependence if taken for too long or at higher doses than your prescription.

At Oasis Runcorn, we know that when you are facing a dual diagnosis, you need a treatment plan that looks at the whole picture. Our rehab treatment plans help to tackle the causes and consequences of addiction while considering the unique recovery needs of those with OCD. Our medical team will make sure you receive any OCD medication you need while our therapists help you understand how the condition is fuelling your addiction.

Here are some of the most important treatment approaches delivered by both centres:

You are stronger than OCD and addiction, and with the right support, you can defeat both. Every day is an opportunity to start fresh, and Oasis Runcorn can help you do just that. If OCD and addiction are holding you back, let Oasis Runcorn guide you on a new path. Contact us today, and we will be by your side as you discover peace and renewed health.