If you struggle with OCD and addiction, you might wonder if the two are connected. Many people face these challenges, and understanding them can help you take the right steps toward healing. 

Here, you’ll learn about OCD, substance abuse, and how they affect your life.

What Is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?

OCD is a mental health condition that causes unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions). It can be overwhelming, making daily life difficult. But you are not alone, many people experience OCD, and help is available.

OCD involves two main parts:

1. Obsessions – These are persistent, distressing thoughts, images, or urges. You might worry about germs, fear something bad will happen, or feel the need for things to be perfectly arranged.
2. Compulsions – These are repetitive actions or mental rituals you feel forced to do to ease anxiety. You may wash your hands repeatedly, check locks multiple times, or count things a certain way.

What Causes OCD?

The exact cause of OCD isn’t fully understood, but certain factors are at play here. 

OCD isn’t just caused by “chemical imbalances,” but research suggests serotonin, dopamine, glutamate, and GABA may affect OCD symptoms.¹ This means that if these chemicals are not balanced properly, they might contribute to obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors.

Also, if someone in your family has OCD, you may have a higher chance of developing it. Studies show that OCD can run in families. About 10%-20% of children with a parent who has OCD may also develop it, but most (80%-90%) will not. However, this doesn’t mean genes are the only cause.²

A person’s environment can also play a small role in OCD. Obsessions and compulsions often differ across cultures, religions, and backgrounds. They also change over time, like increased fears about HIV/AIDS in the 1980s³ or COVID-19 more recently.⁴

What Is OCD’s Relation to Alcohol and Drug Addiction?

OCD can be challenging, and it’s not uncommon to seek relief from alcohol or drugs. However, turning to these substances often complicates things further.

Research indicates that individuals with OCD are at a higher risk of developing substance use disorders (SUDs). A study published in JAMA Network Open found that OCD is associated with an elevated risk of substance misuse, comparable to other mental health disorders.⁵

Why This Happens

The overlap between OCD and addiction may stem from shared genetic factors (one of the factors that may cause OCD as mentioned above). The same JAMA Network Open research shows that approximately 56% to 68% of the relationship between OCD and substance misuse can be explained by common genetic influences.

The Impact of Substance Use

While substances like alcohol might offer temporary relief from OCD symptoms, they can lead to increased anxiety and worsen obsessive-compulsive behaviors over time. Also, substance use can interfere with the effectiveness of OCD treatments, which makes recovery more challenging.

How OCD Affects You

OCD can take up a lot of your time and energy. It can make work, relationships, and daily tasks stressful. Even though compulsions may give temporary relief, they do not stop the obsessive thoughts. Instead, the cycle continues, leading to frustration and exhaustion.

If you’re struggling with both OCD and substance use, it’s essential to address both issues simultaneously. Integrated holistic treatment approaches that focus on both OCD and SUDs are more effective than treating each condition separately.

Seeking help is a courageous step, and with the right support, you can manage both OCD and addiction effectively.

Find inpatient services at South Coast Counseling.

Sources:

1. Graat, I., Figee, M., & Denys, D. (2017). Neurotransmitter Dysregulation in OCD. In C. Pittenger (Ed.), Oxford Medicine Online. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/med/9780190228163.003.0025
2. Browne, H. A., Gair, S. L., Scharf, J. M., & Grice, D. E. (2014). Genetics of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Related Disorders. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 37(3), 319–335. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psc.2014.06.002
3. Fisman, S., & Walsh, L. C. (1994). Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Fear of AIDS Contamination in Childhood. 33(3), 349–353. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004583-199403000-00008
4. Dennis, D., McGlinchey, E. L., & Wheaton, M. G. (2023). The perceived long-term impact of COVID-19 on OCD symptomology. Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders, 38, 100812–100812. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jocrd.2023.100812
5. Virtanen, S., Kuja-Halkola, R., Sidorchuk, A., Fernández de la Cruz, L., Rück, C., Lundström, S., Suvisaari, J., Larsson, H., Lichtenstein, P., Mataix-Cols, D., & Latvala, A. (2022). Association of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms With Substance Misuse in 2 Longitudinal Cohorts in Sweden. JAMA Network Open, 5(6), e2214779. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.14779