Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) comes in many forms but one thing I’ve consistently noticed is that the symptoms go through phases of being better and worse.  I often refer to OCD as being like a ‘bully’ and I’ve noticed that when we are at our most vulnerable this bully has a nasty habit of showing up. 

Things which can make us vulnerable to an OCD flare up might include stress, traumatic experience, major life changes and hormonal variations.  All of these are things which remind us what little control we have, so no wonder we desperately try to increase that sense of control by reverting back to compulsions which may bring a little comfort in the short term.

During a flare up you may notice an increase in distressing and obsessive thoughts, and find yourself getting lost in rigid and time consuming rituals.  It’s also likely that you’ll be doubting that you’ve done things ‘properly’ and asking others for reassurance.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is the NICE recommended treatment for OCD and an important part of this is what I call ‘learning to be your own therapist’.  What I mean by this is that in therapy you’ll learn skills to manage OCD, and during a flare up you’ll need to dig into your tool box and reapply these.  

As part of your ongoing management it’s a good idea to keep a note of any symptoms and learn what factors can lead to a flare up for you.  From there, consider ways you could manage those factors in the future.  It might be about finding ways to reduce stress, or asking for extra support during major life changes.

In short, do what you can to reduce the chances of an OCD flare up but if it does happen use the tools you already have and ask for support.

You may also enjoy these other blogs which I’ve written on OCD…