Addiction and OCD

Does anyone know anything about addiction being linked to OCD?

It's something I have dealt with on and off throughout my life, my OCD manifests in the way I have to do certain things a certain number of times otherwise I get anxious about particular things, which has added to this routine and fed my addictions.

It's definitely something I want to look more into to explore the relationship between the two, because it is very interesting, but I wondered if anyone knew anything about this?

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Former Member

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/ocd-and-addiction
idk if this is useful but there u go

Maisy

I don't know much about addiction and OCD but I have heard that:

OCD is more likely to occur in autistic people https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/mental-health/ocd

Many people who have autism also have ADHD https://www.verywellmind.com/what-to-know-about-comorbid-autism-and-adhd-6944530

Addiction (particularly substance abuse) can be more common in people who have ADHD https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/adhd-and-substance-abuse#adhd-and-substance-abuse

While some people get addicted to things that make them feel good https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/addiction-support/addiction-what-is-it/ trauma or negative life events can also cause mental health difficulties such as addiction https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/basics/addiction/causes-addiction or OCD https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/overview/

Trauma is more likely to happen to someone who is neurodivergent e.g autistic https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/professional-practice/ptsd-autism#:~:text=Research indicates that autistic people may be more likely to,of PTSD (Brewin et al.

And in the link that @Xee gave, the article mentions how someone with OCD might self-medicate which in turn could lead to an addiction. This could be expanded, for example, to someone with social anxiety or an autistic person who struggles socially and may (mis)use alcohol to fit in https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/mental-health/addiction

All of these conditions (addiction, OCD, autism, ADHD etc) can also be influenced by genes.

I can also see the link between addiction and OCD in the sense of both of these issues involve doing something excessively because you feel you need to. So on that basis alone, I could see how addiction and OCD could be related. But yes, it would be interesting to learn more about addiction and OCD, especially if there could be a link between the two!

Former Member

@RenP
Yes, there can be a relationship between addiction and OCD. While they are distinct conditions, there are some overlapping features and potential connections between them.

OCD is characterized by recurrent and intrusive thoughts (obsessions) that lead to repetitive behaviors (compulsions) aimed at reducing anxiety or preventing a feared outcome. These compulsions are often rigidly performed and can be time-consuming. In some cases, individuals with OCD may develop rituals or compulsive behaviors that involve substance use or addictive behaviors as a way to alleviate their anxiety or distress.

Addiction, on the other hand, is a complex condition characterized by compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli despite negative consequences. It involves a loss of control over the behavior, continued engagement in the behavior despite negative outcomes, and cravings for the substance or behavior.

The relationship between OCD and addiction can be multifaceted. If people are experiencing symptoms of both conditions, it can be helpful to seek professional help from a mental health provider who can provide an accurate diagnosis and develop a tailored treatment plan.