Can OCD effect emotions?: Like can it make me... - OCD Support

OCD Support

1,361 posts

Can OCD effect emotions?

Lindsey14 profile image
3 Replies

Like can it make me feel to much or not a lot at all?

Written by
Lindsey14 profile image
Lindsey14
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...

The ability to reply to this post has been turned off.

3 Replies
Sallyskins profile image
Sallyskins

That answer is both! Having OCD means that you are frequently overwhelmed by emotion, particularly fear and anxiety, and that can crowd out other emotions.

There is a system in the brain called the 'limbic system' that is responsible for emotion. Now, I'm not an expert on brain science, but it's something you could read up about.

Having OCD can mean that your body is flooded by chemicals like noradrenaline, which the body makes in response to fear and anxiety. Having OCD can make you hypersensitive, a bit like a faulty house or car alarm that goes off when it shouldn't.

I think that often this emotional overload means we try to shut down our emotions, just to get some peace from them. That often means shutting out pleasant emotions as well. It just gets too much.

But it is possible to get back to your old self, and feel pleasant emotions as well. Medication combined with CBT can help a lot. The brain, always remember, is adaptable and is always making new connections and learning. CBT can help you to make positive new connections and enable you to feel emotions as you ought to.

The old you is still in there, underneath the OCD!

Lindsey14 profile image
Lindsey14 in reply toSallyskins

Cbt is therapy right?

Sallyskins profile image
Sallyskins in reply toLindsey14

CBT is cognitive behavioural therapy. It has been developed since the 1960s as a tried and tested way of dealing with a lot of different mental health problems. For OCD it normally involves exposing yourself to the anxiety and resisting the temptation to do compulsions until the anxiety has subsided. It also means learning to think differently about how your OCD is triggered. It isn't the easiest of therapies to carry out, but it is effective. A good introduction to it can be found in many self help books such as Overcoming Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and The OCD Workbook.

The ability to reply to this post has been turned off.

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Ocd

Hi all I'm new to the group live in the UK Liverpool I've recently been suffering with Ocd and...
Mclark18 profile image

ocd

today for me has been the worst day if my life.getting help here in England,is bad.all talk no...

Contamination OCD

I am new here so hi everyone :) I have been suffering with contamination OCD for the last 3 years...

Harm ocd

Hi I think I may have harm ocd. I have really bad thoughts about my daughter about harming her and...
Mydogb profile image

Contamination ocd

Hi everyone I suffer from contamination ocd and have done for nearly thirty years I am seeing a...
Madchoc profile image

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.