What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a common co-occurring disorder among people with alcohol use disorder. Those who suffer from OCD are characterized by having excessive and irrational anxieties and engaging in repetitive and compulsive responses to those concerns. These habits may become excessive, which may be a major source of stress and make it hard to focus on anything else. Someone who constantly washes their hands is a typical case of OCD. This behavior may develop possibly due to hysteria about germs. The unrealistic fear is that the germs will spread and everyone will become sick if they don’t wash their hands for even a second. Those who suffer from OCD cannot ignore their symptoms and must find the root cause of their obsessions. This article tries to examine the connection between OCD and Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD).
Is There a Connection Between OCD and Alcohol Use Disorder?
Multiple studies have examined the correlation between OCD and AUD. Around 30% of those who suffer from OCD also have AUD, according to the findings. Researchers have proposed multiple hypotheses to explain the correlation between OCD and alcohol use. Although the manifestations of these compulsions can vary widely, compulsive behavior is a sign of both obsessive-compulsive disorder and addiction. Addiction and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) presumably share neural circuitry. Researchers have hypothesized that the link between obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and alcoholism stems from shared neurobiological mechanisms involving regions of the brain associated with impulse control and compulsions.
What Is the Relationship Between Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Addictive Behavior Overall?
There is much overlap between the symptoms of an obsessive-compulsive disorder and those of addiction; for example, both can cause a person to feel compelled to act in a certain way, even if they would prefer not to. Some people with these compulsions may feel compelled to act in a certain way, even if doing so causes them stress, such as continually washing their hands or binge drinking. Although obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is associated with various types of addiction, such as cocaine or opiate addiction, alcohol is the most prevalent drug connected to OCD. Substance abuse, especially alcohol, is a common coping mechanism for persons with OCD.
Seek The Best Treatment for OCD and AUD in Dallas, Texas
The presence of co-occurring illnesses might further complicate alcohol addiction treatment. Reoccurring compulsions are a sign of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Recovering alcoholics will experience extreme physical and emotional distress on top of the typical withdrawal symptoms. This might discourage the affected person from making another attempt at addiction recovery.
Treating the underlying cause of OCD is essential if you or a beloved one has been identified with this condition and is undergoing therapy for an alcohol use disorder. Despite the stress and damage that alcohol has caused in your life and the lives of those closest to you, remember that it can be treated.
The most effective method for treating alcoholism is to seek a professional rehab center specializing in treating its underlying causes. Get in touch with Taylor Recovery Center immediately if you feel lost or confused about where to begin. Our admissions staff will answer inquiries on the various addiction treatment programs available at our facility, including dual diagnosis.
