Often anxiety related problems include obsessions and compulsions or obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Obsessions are not the same as compulsions and the two are often confused.

So you might reasonable ask “What's the difference between an obsession and a compulsion?”

An example of compulsive and obssessive behaviour can best explain this. A person can have a compulsion to tidy their home. They do this and feel an immediate sense of satisfaction for doing so. When the task is complete, the thought process I must tidy my house disappears ... and the person feels much better, turning a negative situation (untidy house) into a positive, satisfying one (tidy house).

With an obsession however, the sufferer broods and ruminates about the task (or thought). The thoughts come more and more often, until the person becomes preoccupied with them. The obsessive act (or thought) is usually about the deferment of punishment. The difficulty is, that unlike the compulsive, the obsessive feels no reward at all for performing his task (or thought): he/she feels no relief, no satisfaction, nothing at all. So, minutes (or hours) later, the brooding and ruminating returns.
With a compulsion, the sufferer feels an immediate benefit, with an obsession, there is no benefit (apart from having deferred their worries for a few minutes).

Obsessions

Obsessions are recurrent thoughts, beliefs or ideas that dominate a person's mind. They affect both men and women from all ages and often occur in people that are already something of a perfectionist or who are anxious to get everything to be just right.
Obsessions can include:

• Counting ritual
• Checking things repeatedly e.g. locks, windows, doors, ovens etc
• Elaborate absurd rituals e.g. if you bump one side of your body you have to hit the other side to even things up
• Constant negative thoughts or worry
• Chronic Insomnia
• Worry about dirt or contamination
• Repeated hand washing
• Being obsessive about health or disease or bodily symptoms (that transfer from one thing to the next quite rapidly)
• Obsessive jealousy or worry about partner

There is often the dominating thought that if the task (e.g. counting / checking things) isn't carried out... then something bad or unpleasant is going to happen. Obsessional people find it difficult to let go of things or stop worrying / brooding and their worries may transfer from one thing to the next rapidly.
As far as a professional hypno-analyst is concerned OCD is really an obsessional neurosis.

Compulsions

With compulsive behaviour the person does feel some reward...they get some satisfaction and escape from life for a while. The more stress (and anxiety) the person feels, the stronger their compulsions, and the more they will carry out their compulsive behaviour, often resulting in feelings of guilt (I shouldn't have done that, I'll stop tomorrow).

Compulsive behaviour can include:

• Drinking (where drinking alcohol is excessive or out of control)
• Smoking
• Nail biting
• Comfort eating / overeating
• Gambling
• Drug addictions
• Impulse control problems e.g. cutting, burning or scratching oneself

If you have cumpulsions or obsessions, or if you suffer with OCD You might have an idea of where some of these compulsive behaviours or obssesive thoughts come from, on the other hand you might have no idea what drives you to behave the way you do or feel that way you feel. . Hypnoanalysis gets to the cause of the problem that’s locked away in the unconscious – these are buried emotions that no amount of discussion or figuring out or thinking about seems to help.

Pure Hypnoanalysis (hypnosis combined with analytical therapy) is used get to the root cause of the problem and can resolve the symptoms completely and permanently.
I believe Pure Hypnoanalysis to be the most effective and efficient form of psychotherapy/hypnotherapy available for almost all psychological, emotional, obsessive or compulsive ‘out of contol’  and ‘making no sense’ type behaviours.

Pure Hypnoanalysis creates a safe, trusting and confidential environment where the minds natural therapeutic process can work. This form of hypnotherapy can totally resolve the cause of unconscious behaviours and thoughts - leaving the sufferer free of their symptoms for life!

The next step….

Clinic Details

I provide hypnotherapy consultations in two locations:

It is perfectly natural that you may have questions about hypnotherapy and it is really easy to book your free assessment consultation.
Just call reception 01953 861210 (this number serves both clinic’s),
or if you prefer to call my direct line 07919 418815 - and feel free to leave a confidential message on the answerphone.

Alternatively, you can email me at: ruth@angliahypnotherapy.co.uk