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Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disorder that tends to manifest itself in obsessive, intrusive, and often distressing thoughts. These thoughts are generally accompanied by compulsive behaviors and/or ‘counter thoughts’ which are repetative attempts to calm, control, or release the obsessive thoughts. People who suffer from OCD realize that their obsessions and compulsions are unreasonable, excessive, and an impairment to their lives; however, they are unable to get out of the spiral in which they find themselves. OCD is fraught with internal disregulation and anxiety and is listed as an anxiety disorder in the DSM IV TR (the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). Over time, OCD is also often accompanied by feelings of depression and hopelessness.
OCD can be understood as a form of disregulation in which the brain is literally stuck in a disregulated feedback loop. The use of Neurofeedback training for OCD is relatively new; however, it is clear that Neurofeedback is excellent at stabilizing and re-harmonizing the brain to significantly reduce it’s dysfunctional firing patterns. In this light, Neurofeedback is a natural choice for helping those with OCD. By providing the brain with feedback about how and where it is stuck, Neurofeedback provides the brain with the information it needs to reorganize it’s neural networks and achieve freedom from the reccuring obsessions and compulsions. This reorganization can greatly reduce the symptoms of OCD; and, at this point, Neurofeedback continues to show some very promising results with OCD.
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