Last Updated:

January 14th, 2025

OCD and Addiction | Symptoms and Treatment Options

If you live with OCD, you’re no stranger to the mental tug-of-war it brings with compulsive thoughts you can’t escape and rituals you can’t ignore. Add addiction to the equation, and it can be like pouring fuel on an already raging fire, leaving you feeling burnt out and in despair. At Recovery Lighthouse, we know how overwhelming this struggle can be, but we can quiet the chaos of OCD and addiction. We have extensive experience in treating people with these destructive dual-diagnosis conditions, and we can help you break the link between addiction and OCD forever.

What is OCD?

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition that can make you feel like your mind is running on a never-ending treadmill. It is estimated that 1-2% of people worldwide live with OCD, often beginning in childhood or early adulthood.
OCD creates intrusive thoughts (obsessions) that spark intense anxiety, compelling you to perform repetitive behaviours (compulsions) to quieten those thoughts. However, while these rituals might bring short-term relief from the obsessions, OCD quickly pulls you back into the same exhausting loop.
OCD symptoms can vary from person to person. For some, OCD might look like checking and re-checking if the door is locked, while for others, it is about lining things up just right or being obsessed with fears of contamination. Physical tics, such as blinking or throat clearing, can also accompany OCD as the body’s way of dealing with heightened stress.

Do I have OCD?

A medical diagnosis is required to know if you officially have OCD, but there are some signs of OCD that could point to the condition:

Obsessive thoughts you can’t shake
Compulsions you feel you must do
Excessive need for control or perfection
Time-consuming rituals
Fear of harm to yourself or others
Avoidance behaviours to prevent triggering obsessive thoughts or compulsive behaviours
Emotional distress from “what if” scenarios that make you feel guilty, ashamed or anxious

After recognising these signs of OCD, the next step is often to identify which type of OCD you may have.

What are the 4 types of OCD?

OCD takes on different forms, but OCD symptoms generally fall into four categories. Recognising your specific type can help you feel less alone and better equipped to seek support:

1. Contamination and Cleaning OCD

This type of OCD revolves around a constant fear of germs, dirt or illness. You may be compelled to constantly wash your hands, sanitise every surface or avoid people, places or objects to feel “safe.”

2. Harm and Checking OCD

This type is driven by intense and irrational fears of causing harm. It may be driven by something like accidentally leaving the stove on or feeling responsible for someone else’s safety. You may find yourself checking, re-checking, and even triple-checking to avoid imagined dangers without the fear ever really subsiding.

3. Symmetry and Ordering OCD

If everything around you feels wrong unless it’s perfectly aligned or balanced, then this type of OCD probably sounds familiar. It causes compulsive straightening, counting or arranging with the drive to create symmetry or order, taking over all your thoughts and actions.

4. Forbidden Thoughts and Mental Rituals OCD

This type brings intrusive, distressing thoughts about topics that feel taboo or upsetting, such as sex, religion or violence. To counteract them, people often develop mental rituals like praying, counting or repeating phrases to neutralise the anxiety and “erase” those thoughts, but they never truly succeed.

What causes OCD?

OCD isn’t caused by one thing alone but is usually a combination of genetic vulnerabilities, brain differences and life experiences creating a perfect storm. While research is still ongoing, some of the factors that we do know include:

Genetic blueprint

OCD often runs in families, so if a parent, sibling or close relative struggles with OCD, you might be more likely to experience it, too.

Brain chemistry

For many people with OCD, the brain’s wiring seems to be a bit different. The circuits and chemicals that regulate their decision-making and control repetitive behaviours go into overdrive, causing obsessive thoughts and compulsive actions.

Life experiences

Traumatic events, bullying or a major loss can be triggers for OCD, especially for people who are already predisposed. These experiences might leave emotional scars that fuel obsessive thoughts or compulsive behaviours as coping mechanisms.

Environmental and societal pressures

The world we live in can also potentially have an impact. High-pressure environments, societal expectations for perfection or even certain parenting styles can create the kind of stress and anxiety that feeds into OCD symptoms.

How do OCD and addiction link?

Research shows that about one in four people with OCD will also face addiction at some point and the connection between them can be both complex and chaotic. Living with OCD can feel like being trapped in a relentless mental storm and some turn to alcohol, drugs or even addictive behaviours in an attempt to quiet the noise. While these might numb the distress for a moment, they often leave you with stronger obsessions, heavier compulsions and the added burden of addiction.

Some of the most commonly co-occurring OCD and addiction struggles include:

OCD and alcohol addiction

Alcohol may feel like a shortcut to calming racing thoughts or reducing anxiety but it’s a false friend. Drinking to cope with OCD often leads to dependency while worsening OCD symptoms in the long run.

OCD and drug addiction

OCD and substance addiction can include prescription medicines and illegal drugs used to soothe symptoms or forget about the stresses of OCD for a while. In either case, drug use can spiral into addiction, leaving you battling OCD symptoms, cravings and addiction harm all at once.

OCD and sex/love addiction

Some people turn to relationships or intimacy as a way to escape their anxiety or obsessive thoughts. However, these patterns can evolve into unhealthy attachments which only add to the emotional pain and can create new obsessions.

OCD and porn addiction

Obsessive porn use can become both a coping mechanism and a compulsion in itself. This then deepens feelings of shame and loneliness, making recovery from either OCD or addiction even more challenging.

OCD and shopping addiction

Retail therapy may feel like a quick fix to distract from obsessive thoughts or lift low moods. However, compulsive shopping often results in financial stress, guilt and worsening OCD symptoms which lock in the addiction.

Treatment options for addiction and OCD

At Recovery Lighthouse, we understand that addiction and OCD intertwine, amplifying each other’s challenges. Our rehab treatment programme focuses on tackling addiction while offering support to help manage OCD symptoms. For those needing a more tailored approach, UKAT London Clinic provides integrated treatment for both OCD and addiction, ensuring no aspect of your recovery is left unaddressed.

Here’s what you can expect from both treatment options:

Medically planned detox
One-to-one therapy
Group therapy
Behavioural therapies, including DBT and CBT.
Family support therapy
Holistic therapies, like meditation, art therapy and yoga therapy.
Free weekly group therapy for a year through aftercare and an invitation to join our Alumni events and network.

This approach will help you regain control over your life, step by step. By addressing the root causes of addiction and offering tools to manage OCD symptoms, you will learn healthier ways to cope with the triggers of both conditions, repair affected relationships and rediscover your sense of self beyond addiction and compulsions.

Get help for OCD and addiction today

Imagine a life where your thoughts no longer hold you hostage and addiction no longer controls your every action. With Recovery Lighthouse’s holistic approach to treatment, that dream can be a reality. Reach out to us today, and together, we can help you find balance, strength and a future of peace and possibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is OCD an anxiety disorder?

While OCD is not technically classed as an anxiety disorder it has many of the same symptoms. The intrusive thoughts (obsessions) that define OCD often cause intense anxiety, which people then try to manage through repetitive behaviours (compulsions). These actions are meant to reduce the anxiety temporarily, but they can end up feeding the cycle of stress and compulsion.

Is OCD genetic?

Genetics can play a role in developing OCD. If someone in your family has OCD or related mental health conditions, your chances of experiencing OCD may increase. That said, genetics is just one piece of the puzzle, as environmental factors and life experiences also have a big impact. All of your unique factors must be fully understood and addressed for effective management and treatment of OCD symptoms.

Can OCD medicines be addictive?

Some medications prescribed for OCD, like benzodiazepines, can be habit-forming if used for extended periods or at high doses. However, most commonly prescribed OCD medications, such as SSRIs, are not considered addictive. Always follow your doctor’s advice to ensure safe and effective treatment.

(Click here to see works cited)

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OCD-UK. “Types of OCD.” OCD-UK, https://www.ocduk.org/ocd/types/. Accessed 11 December 2024.
Johns Hopkins Medicine. “Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).” Johns Hopkins Medicine, https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/obsessivecompulsive-disorder-ocd. Accessed 11 December 2024.
Virtanen, Suvi et al. “Association of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms With Substance Misuse in 2 Longitudinal Cohorts in Sweden.” JAMA network open vol. 5,6 e2214779. 1 Jun. 2022, doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.14779. Accessed 11 December 2024.
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