Understanding the Link Between Anxiety and OCD – What You Need to Know

People with OCD have both obsessions and compulsions. They may feel like they have to perform compulsions, such as washing or avoiding people, to reduce their anxiety.

However, engaging in compulsions doesn’t offer relief and only leads to more anxiety. That is why a therapist trained in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is essential.

What is the nature of anxiety?

Worry or fear is the emotion known as anxiety. Everyone feels anxious sometimes, especially when life is stressful or facing danger. But for some people, anxiety becomes overwhelming and gets in the way of everyday life.

Anxiety might stem from a chemical imbalance in the brain in some instances. Environmental causes, such as childhood maltreatment or a traumatic experience, trigger some. And some people have a genetic predisposition to develop an anxiety disorder.

The majority of the time, anxiety symptoms can be lessened by avoiding the triggers. However, it doesn’t heal them. Instead, you should try one of the psychotherapies and engage with a mental health specialist at Kairos Wellness Collective. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a popular kind that helps you to identify and alter thought processes that result in uncomfortable emotions. Exposure therapy, which is progressively exposing oneself to the circumstances or stimuli that cause anxiety, can also be helpful to you.

What is OCD?

Anxiety disorders like OCD can lead to distressing thoughts and the need to engage in compulsions or routines. These rituals do not give people with OCD an absolute pleasure, but they can temporarily relieve anxiety. They can take up much of a person’s time, interfere with daily life activities, and cause distress in the family and workplace.

OCD can affect anyone, but it often begins in childhood or adolescence. It is more common in women than men and is more likely to occur during times of stress. It is thought to be caused by changes in the brain’s natural chemistry and structure, but researchers do not know precisely what causes it. It is also believed to have a genetic component.

Although cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most effective treatment for OCD, medications can help lessen anxious symptoms. One type of CBT called exposure and response prevention (ERP), involves gradually exposing patients to the things that trigger their fears and teaching them to cope without engaging in rituals or compulsions.

What are the Signs of Anxiety and OCD?

Those who experience anxiety and OCD often feel uncomfortable with their recurring thoughts and compulsions. They may feel a sense of dread or fear disproportionate to the threat. They might be unable to stop thinking about their obsessive thoughts or perform their compulsions. They are often unsure whether their obsessions and compulsions are natural or not.

People with OCD can also feel driven to engage in compulsive behavior, but they do not get pleasure from doing these rituals. These actions are intended to reduce the anxiety associated with their obsessive thoughts or prevent something wrong from happening. Unfortunately, these compulsions do not offer any lasting relief from anxiety, and they usually do not prevent the things they fear from occurring.

Most people with OCD know that their symptoms are abnormal and seek treatment. However, children and some adults do not realize they have a problem. They may even be ashamed of their thoughts and behaviors. Family members can unintentionally aggravate these feelings by accommodating the person’s OCD. They might provide verbal reassurance or enable the person by providing items needed to carry out rituals, such as soap for hand washing.

What are the Treatments for Anxiety and OCD?

The treatments for anxiety disorders and OCD are similar in many ways, but they have distinct treatment options. Cognitive behavioral treatment, which involves working with a qualified therapist, is the gold standard for both anxiety disorders and OCD. This talk therapy focuses on tackling irrational thoughts and worries to promote improved coping skills.

With OCD, people often feel distress from recurrent, unwanted thoughts or images that they can’t control and seek relief through performing rituals or behaviors called compulsions. These compulsions may include fears of contamination (such as fears of germs or dirt) or a need for perfectionism, order, neatness, or symmetry.

Unlike OCD, most people who have anxiety don’t engage in compulsive behavior to a degree that they can’t stop. However, they can still be plagued with repetitive, intrusive thoughts unrelated to their daily lives. This type of thinking is called ruminations and can be a sign of GAD or anxiety phobias.