Written by:

Lee Spinks

Last Updated:

September 30th, 2024

OCD and Addiction

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition linked with repetitive thoughts, ideas or feelings and intense behavioural urges often aimed at managing these preoccupations. OCD is perhaps still a misunderstood diagnosis, with many people considering OCD as being solely linked to tidiness and order. Whilst symmetry, ordering, and contamination do feed into some types of OCD, the link between OCD and a ‘love of cleaning’ is a huge misconception. Much more than love or order, OCD can be very distressing and severely impact many lives. The reality of the condition is much more complex. The impact of OCD can be huge, leading to the development of comorbid depression and anxiety. OCD can also be a predictive factor for addiction. With around three-quarters of a million people living with OCD, understanding how to identify and manage the condition is a huge step towards increased quality of life.

What is OCD?

OCD is a mental health condition. OCD is typically a lifelong (or chronic) condition. The severity of OCD symptoms can vary drastically from ‘mild’ to ‘severe.’ In severe cases, compulsive behaviours can take up hours of the day, making it very difficult for people to engage in professional, educational, social or personal activities.

The core of OCD symptoms revolves around two key experiences: obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are usually linked with our thoughts, whilst compulsions are linked with our behaviours.

What’s an Obsession?

Obsessions with OCD look very different from person to person.

An OCD obsession is defined as:

‘Recurrent and persistent thoughts, urges or images that are experienced, at some time during the disturbance, as intrusive, unwanted, and that in most individuals cause marked anxiety or distress.’

More often than not, obsessions are uncomfortable to deal with. They can be disturbing, upsetting and sometimes graphic or taboo in nature. Crucially though, these thoughts are present more than once and ‘are not voluntarily produced.’

What’s compulsion?

A compulsion happens when someone feels the need to complete a specific action to manage an obsession:

‘The individual attempts to ignore or suppress such thoughts, urges, or images, or to neutralise them with some thought or action (i.e., by performing a compulsion).’

Compulsions are purposeful actions to try and dispel or avoid difficult obsessions and emotions. They are usually aligned with strict personal rules and routines and may seem ‘odd’ to other people. These behaviours are sometimes called OCD tics.

Do I Have OCD?

If you think that you may have OCD, it can be worth learning about the four main types of the condition. If you believe your experiences match with one or more of these, you can use this to help you speak to a professional.

What are the Four Types of OCD?

1. Checking OCD
2. Contamination OCD
3. Symmetry and Ordering OCD
4. Rumination OCD

Checking OCD is linked to compulsively checking something over and over, such as locking your front door or checking an oven is turned off.

Contamination OCD is linked to a feat of becoming contaminated or contaminating others in some way. This is often associated with fear of sickness and germs.

Symmetry and Ordering OCD is linked to a fixation on the arrangement of specific objects.

Rumination OCD is linked to repetitive worrying over the past and future.

It is possible for people to experience a mix of these types of symptoms.

What Causes OCD?

It is not certain what causes OCD. However, there are some potential contributing factors, such as:

• High brain activity
• Low serotonin levels
• Experience of bullying or abuse
• Experience a significant life event such as loss of childbirth
• Prevalence of OCD in the family
• A specific personality type

This suggests that OCD can be linked to a range of genetic, environmental, situational and personal factors. This indicates that OCD may be a result of an interaction of multiple factors rather than having one direct causal relationship.

OCD and Addiction: What’s the Link?

More than a quarter of people with OCD seek support for a substance use disorder. But why is this?

Is OCD an Addiction?

Whilst OCD and addictions both share some characteristics (preoccupation and engagement with a particular behaviour and compulsive engagement), OCD is not an addiction. Despite this, however, it is possible – and quite common – for individuals with OCD to develop an addiction. There is a theory that addictions may develop as a method of coping with or quieting uncomfortable thoughts in OCD. It has also been suggested that individuals with OCD may struggle more than others with compulsivity in general. With this being said, the connection between OCD and addiction is not currently fully understood.

What Addictions are Associated with OCD?

Perhaps the most common addictions amongst people with OCD are substance addictions, particularly to alcohol, cannabis, cocaine and opioids.

However, behavioural addictions are also common. There have been some links between OCD and porn addiction, as well as OCD and sex addiction, but research has also found individuals with OCD may be more likely to experience addictions to:

• Gambling
• The internet
• Spending
• Shopping
• Kleptomania
• Food
• Exercise

OCD and Addiction Treatment

Getting Help for OCD

For a lot of people, a diagnosis of OCD can come as a relief. To seek a diagnosis, people often contact their primary care clinician for referral to a specialist psychiatric team. Alongside this, there are several places you can access support for OCD:

• a support group
• an OCD charity (such as OCD Action)
• a crisis line (such as Samaritans)
• a mental health treatment facility 
• a specialist rehab service 

OCD Treatment and Medication

OCD is often treated through medications and therapy. A frequent combination of these includes talking therapy and antidepressants. However, there are other forms of support available, such as:

• counselling
• cognitive behavioural therapy
• dialectical behavioural therapy
• exposure and response prevention therapy
• group therapy

Dealing with Addiction

If you are coping with an addiction alongside your OCD symptoms, then you need support that is well-positioned to help you tackle both. At Oasis Bradford, we can personalise a treatment programme to ensure your stay in rehab meets the needs of your dual diagnosis as smoothly as possible. You may find that after a detox phase, your OCD symptoms may seem to heighten. Being in a residential environment during this stage can help you feel more supported in managing this change in the early stages of addiction recovery. Your treatment can then focus on building effective coping mechanisms to help you manage obsessions and compulsions whilst staying sober.

Seek Help Today at Oasis Bradford

Facing addiction is challenging, but you don’t have to do it alone. If you have a dual diagnosis, we can assist you in overcoming your addiction. Reach out to us today to begin your recovery journey. At UKAT, we are dedicated to helping everyone achieve stable mental health and a substance-free life. Our team of experts is here to help you take the first step towards that goal.