86 Obsessions, Compulsions, OCD and Internal Family Systems

Join Dr. Peter to go way below the surface and find the hidden meanings of obsessions, compulsions and OCD.  Through poetry and quotes, he invites you into the painful, distressing, fearful and misunderstood world of those who suffer from OCD.  He defines obsessions and compulsions, discusses the different types of each, and evaluates two conventional treatments and one alternative treatment for OCD.  Most importantly, he discusses the deepest natural causes of OCD, which are almost always disregarded in conventional treatment, which focuses primarily on the symptoms.  Lead-in
 OCD is not a disease that bothers; it is a disease that tortures. - Author: J.J. Keeler  “It can look like still waters on the outside while a hurricane is swirling in your mind.” — Marcie Barber Phares Poetry or word picture (prayer of the scrupulous)

 Aditi Apr 2017

 

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.  OCD.  That is what we are addressing today. Here is what OCD is like for Toni Neville -- she says:  “It’s like being controlled by a puppeteer. Every time you try and just walk away he pulls you back. Are you sure the stove is off and everything is unplugged? Back up we go. Are you sure your hands are as clean as they can get? Back ya go. Are you sure the doors are securely locked? Back down we go. How many people have touched this object? Wash your hands again.” Introduction
 We are together in this great adventure, this podcast, Interior Integration for Catholics, we are journeying together, and I am honored to be able to spend this time with you.  
I am Dr. Peter Malinoski, clinical psychologist and passionate Catholic and together, we are taking on the tough topics that matter to you.  
We bring the best of psychology and human formation and harmonize it with the perennial truths of the Catholic Faith.   
Interior Integration for Catholics is part of our broader outreach, Souls and Hearts bringing the best of psychology grounded in a Catholic worldview to you and the rest of the world through our website soulsandhearts.com Today, we are getting into obsessions and compulsions -- a really deep dive into what's really going on with these experiences.  I know many of you were expecting me to discuss scrupulosity today -- And you know what?  I was expecting I would be discussing scrupulosity well, but in order to have that discussion of scrupulosity  be well-founded, we really need to get into understanding obsessions and compulsions first.  I have to bring you up to speed on obessions and compulsions before we get into scrupulosity, and there is a lot to know
The questions we will be covering about obsessions and compulsions.
 What are Obsession and Compulsions? Getting into definitions.  Also What are the different types of obsessions and compulsions, the different forms that obsessions and compulsions can takeWhat is the experience of OCD like?  From those who have suffered it.  
Who suffers from obsessions and compulsions -- how common are they?  Who is at risk? Why do obsessions and compulsions start and why do they keep going? How do we overcome obsessions and compulsions?  How do we resolve them?  What does the secular literature say are the best treatments"  -- Medication and a particular kind of therapy called Exposure and Response PreventionAlternatives  Can we find not just a descriptive diagnosis, but a proscriptive conceptualization that gives a direction for healing, resolving the obsessions and compulsions  Not just symptom management.

Definitions
 Obsessions
 DSM-5: Obsessions are defined by (1) and (2):
 Recurrent and persistent thoughts, urges, or impulses that are experienced, at some time during the disturbance, as intrusive and unwanted, and that in most individuals cause marked anxiety or distress. The individual attempts to ignore or suppress such thoughts, urges, or images, or to neutralize them with some other thought or action (i.e., by performing a compulsion). Not pleasurable Involuntary
 My compulsive thoughts aren't even thoughts, they're absolute certainties and obeying them isn't a choice. - Author: Paul Rudnick To resist a compulsion with willpower alone is to hold back an avalanche by melting the snow with a candle. It just keeps coming and coming and coming. - Author: David Adam 
Individual works to neutralize the obsession with another thought or a compulsion.  

From the International OCD Foundation:  Obsessions are thoughts, images or impulses that occur over and over again and feel outside of the person’s control. Individuals with OCD do not want to have these thoughts and find them disturbing. In most cases, people with OCD realize that these thoughts don’t make any sense.  Obsessions are typically accompanied by intense and uncomfortable feelings such as fear, disgust, doubt, or a feeling that things have to be done in a way that is “just right.” In the context of OCD, obsessions are time consuming and get in the way of important activities the person values. 
Common Obsessions
 Sources
 What is OCD? Article by the International OCD Foundation on their website WebMD article How Do I Know if I Have OCD? By Danny Bonvissuto February 19. 2020 Northpointrecovery.com blog What Types of OCD Are There? Get the Breakdown Here by the Northpoint Staff from May 3, 2019 Article entitled Common Types of OCD: Subtypes, Their Symptoms and the Best Treatment by Patrick Carey dated July 6, 2021 on treatmyocd.com 
Contamination
 Body fluids --- blood, urine, saliva, feces -   I gave my baby niece a serious illness when I held her --  I'm sure I got a disease from using the public restroom.  
Germs for communicable diseases -- may be afraid to shake hands, worried about catching gonorrhea Environmental contaminants -- radiation, asbestos Household chemicals -- cleaners, solvents Dirt If you put the wrong foods in your body, you are contaminated and dirty and your stomach swells. Then the voice says, Why did you do that? Don't you know better? Ugly and wicked, you are disgusting to me. - Author: Bethany Pierce Losing Control
 Giving in to an impulse to harm yourself --  I could jump in front of this bus right now.  
Fear of acting on an impulse to harm others -- what if I stabbed my child with this knife? Fear of violent or horrific images in your mind 
Fear of shouting out insults or obscenities -- 
Fear of stealing things&nbsp...