OCD is often experienced as a battle between the mind and the body, where intrusive, uncontrollable thoughts (obsessions) trigger a need to perform specific rituals or behaviors (compulsions) in an attempt to neutralize or alleviate the distress. These compulsions can offer temporary relief, but they rarely resolve the underlying psychological conflict. Instead, they often reinforce the cycle, pulling the person deeper into their compulsions over time.
At the core of OCD is a conflict that is not always conscious. The obsessions — repetitive and intrusive thoughts — often point to something unconscious: a deeper anxiety or fear that has not been fully acknowledged or expressed. These thoughts are not just random; they are tied to something that feels unresolved or threatening within the person’s psyche. The compulsions, which may seem like a way to regain control, actually serve to contain the anxiety that arises from the unconscious conflict.
The cycle of obsession and compulsion often stems from the inability to fully confront or understand the root cause of the distress. The more a person tries to control the thoughts or actions, the more they may inadvertently reinforce the very anxiety they are trying to escape. In essence, the unconscious desires or fears become manifest in the obsessive thoughts, and the compulsions are an attempt to appease them, even though this rarely brings lasting peace.
In therapy, we explore what the compulsions are protecting or hiding. Rather than simply trying to stop the behaviors, we work together to uncover what the unconscious is trying to communicate. The compulsions are not meaningless; they are an expression of deeper, often hidden fears, desires, or unresolved emotions. By making space for the unconscious material to surface and be understood, it becomes possible to transform the relationship to both the thoughts and the compulsions. This process of understanding can lead to a shift in how one relates to the anxiety, allowing for greater freedom from the repetitive cycle
