Alcohol OCD Intrusive ThoughtsBy Michaela

The Reality of Alcohol OCD Intrusive Thoughts

Have you been diagnosed with OCD and are also struggling with alcohol addiction? If so, you know the unique challenges that come along with navigating a condition like OCD while working through an alcohol issue.

The mixture of an OCD diagnosis, alcohol addiction, and the intrusive thoughts that follow can present en even more challenging situation for individuals to navigate.

In this post, we’ll talk about what it means to deal with these issues simultaneously and cover some of the important information you’ll need to know if you find yourself in that situation.

What is OCD?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition that is characterized by intrusive thoughts, compulsions, or both.

People with OCD may have difficulty functioning in their daily lives as a result of the time and energy spent on their obsessions and compulsions.

Intrusive thoughts are unwanted, persistent, and often disturbing thoughts, images, or impulses that can cause a great deal of anxiety.

Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts that a person feels compelled to do in order to relieve the anxiety caused by the obsessions.

People with OCD may have both obsessions and compulsions, or they may only experience one or the other.

OCD is a chronic condition, which means it can last for years, and even a lifetime, if left untreated.

How Does Alcohol Worsen OCD?

While alcohol is a legal substance, it is also a central nervous system depressant. This means that it can slow down the functioning of the brain and body. Alcohol abuse can worsen OCD symptoms in a number of ways.

Increased Anxiety

Alcohol may initially help to reduce anxiety, but it is only a temporary solution. In the long-run, alcohol abuse can actually lead to increased anxiety levels.

This is because alcohol alters the brain chemistry and can make the symptoms of OCD worse.

Loss of Control

People with OCD often have a need for control over their thoughts and behaviors.

Alcohol abuse can lead to a loss of control over both thoughts and behaviors, which can be very distressing for individuals with OCD.

Impulsivity

OCD is characterized by intrusive thoughts, which are unwanted and persistent thoughts that can be disturbing.

Alcohol abuse can increase impulsivity, which may lead to acting on these intrusive thoughts.

This can be extremely dangerous and should be avoided at all costs.

Decreased Inhibitory Control

Inhibitory control is the ability to control one’s thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Alcohol abuse can lead to a decrease in inhibitory control, which can worsen OCD symptoms.

This can lead to increased anxiety, compulsions, and even acting on intrusive thoughts.

Interferes With OCD Treatments

OCD is a treatable condition, but alcohol abuse can interfere with the effectiveness of OCD treatments.

Some of the most common OCD treatments include exposure and response prevention (ERP) and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).

Exposure and response prevention is a type of CBT that involves exposing oneself to the things that trigger their OCD and then learning to resist the urge to perform compulsions.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a type of therapy that helps people to change the thoughts and behaviors that contribute to their OCD.

Both of these types of treatment require a certain amount of cognitive functioning, which can be impaired by alcohol abuse.

In addition, alcohol abuse can lead to a loss of motivation to stick with treatment, which can further interfere with the effectiveness of OCD treatments.

Makes it Harder to Stick to Treatment Plan

OCD is a chronic condition that requires long-term treatment. Alcohol abuse can make it harder to stick to a treatment plan for OCD.

This is because alcohol abuse can lead to a loss of motivation to stick with treatment, as well as impaired cognitive functioning, which can make it difficult to follow through with treatment.

Treating Alcohol Addiction & OCD Concurrently

As you might well know, treating alcohol addiction and OCD at the same time can present a challenge. Treating or overcoming each of these conditions individually is tough–let alone doing it at the same time.

The best strategy for dealing with this is to undergo treatment for your alcohol dependence or addiction first. Once that is under control, you’ll find it easier and more effective to treat your OCD.

What Are Intrusive Thoughts and How Do They Impact Those Going Through Alcohol Addiction or Dependence?

Intrusive thoughts are defined as persistent and unwanted thoughts that can be disturbing. They are a common symptom of OCD, but can also occur in those who don’t have the condition.

Intrusive thoughts can be about anything, but are usually about things that the person finds distressing or anxiety-provoking.

For example, a person with OCD may have intrusive thoughts about dirt and contamination. A person with an alcohol addiction may have intrusive thoughts about drinking or using alcohol.

Intrusive thoughts can be very distressing and can make it difficult to function in everyday life. They can also lead to compulsions, which are repetitive behaviors or rituals that a person feels the need to do in order to relieve the anxiety caused by the intrusive thoughts.

Compulsions can be anything from hand-washing and cleaning, to counting or checking things, to avoidant behaviors like staying away from people or places that trigger the intrusive thoughts.

Intrusive thoughts and compulsions can interfere with work, school, and relationships. They can also make it difficult to stick to treatment for OCD or alcohol addiction.

If you’re struggling with intrusive thoughts, it’s important to seek help from a mental health professional. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for OCD that can help you to manage intrusive thoughts and compulsions.

Connection Between Alcohol Dependence and OCD

There is a strong connection between alcohol dependence and OCD. People who abuse alcohol are more likely to also have OCD, and people with OCD are more likely to abuse alcohol.

There are a few possible explanations for this connection. One is that alcohol abuse can lead to OCD. Another is that the two conditions share risk factors, such as genetic vulnerability or exposure to trauma.

It’s also possible that alcohol abuse can make OCD worse. This is because alcohol abuse can lead to impaired cognitive functioning, which can make it harder to resist compulsions. In addition, alcohol abuse can make it harder to stick to a treatment plan for OCD.

The Alcohol Coach Can Help With…

If you are struggling from these conditions concurrently, then you know how tough it can be to overcome them when they combine to stand in your way.

Luckily, The Alcohol Coach has a program with you in mind. Here are the ways that a regimen from The Alcohol Coach can help with OCD, intrusive thoughts, and alcohol dependency.

Reducing Alcohol Dependence

The Alcohol Coach can help you to reduce your alcohol dependence through a number of methods. One is by helping you to find other ways to cope with stress and anxiety.

Another is by providing support and encouragement as you go through withdrawal and detox. The Alcohol Coach can also help you to create a plan for staying sober.

This program is focused on improving self-worth, rediscovering your self-esteem, and approaching alcohol dependency from a place of empowerment, not helplessness.

Rediscovering Your Best Self

We all have the ability to overcome alcohol dependence. Through The Alcohol Coach’s program, you’ll be able to focus on what can be, not what is already done. Our mentorship program approaches this issue from a place of helpfulness and not despair.

If you want to rediscover your best self, become more empowered, and improve your outlook on life, then The Alcohol Coach is ready to help you.

Freeing Your Mind Up For OCD Treatments

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for OCD, but it can be difficult to stick to if you’re also struggling with alcohol abuse.

The Alcohol Coach can help you to reduce your dependence on alcohol so that you can focus on CBT and other treatments for OCD. This program will provide you with the support and encouragement you need to stay on track with your treatment.

Key Takeaways

• OCD is worsened by alcohol dependence
• Trying to treat both OCD and alcohol dependence at the same time is difficult and reduces success rate
• The Alcohol Coach helps reduce dependency on alcohol to free up room for OCD treatments
• The Alcohol Coach approaches alcohol dependency from a place of positivity and optimism

If you’re struggling with OCD and alcohol abuse, The Alcohol Coach can help you to overcome both problems. Contact us today to learn more about our program.

Editor’s Note:

In this article, you might notice that we use ‘labels’ such as “alcoholic”, “disease”, and other identifiers that are used to link individuals together by their habits with alcohol. Though they are used colloquially, we believe them to perpetuate limiting beliefs.  

A key tenet of The Alcohol Coach is that the way to overcome alcohol addiction is through empowerment, not retreating into a space of powerlessness or victim status. 

So, even though we may use these terms to communicate a point as it is known by the general public, keep in mind that our core beliefs dictate that these terms be avoided as much as possible.